Abstract
Controlled laser irradiation parameters using recently developed sub-nanosecond pulsed laser technology with emission wavelength in the near Infrared regime (1064 nm) have been assessed on a Pleistocene bone from the archaeological site of Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain. Burst pulse mode was employed to explore contaminant removal efficiency, while at the same time, assessing the degree of damage produced to the underlying original substrate surface. The surface morphology and composition of the deteriorated bone have been characterized, along with the effects of laser irradiation at 1064 nm, using Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy–with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (SEM–EDS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The most effective laser cleaning parameters in burst mode have been identified in order to optimize the emission parameters of the laser, thus localizing its interaction within the outermost layers of contaminants and degradation products, avoiding damage to the underlying original bone surface. Hence, threshold cleaning and substrate damage values have been determined for this new sub-ns laser, paving the way to safer laser cleaning procedures that may be useful for the effective conservation of bone archaeological artifacts.
Highlights
The Sierra de Atapuerca mountain range has become one of the most famous archaeological regions of the world following the discovery of the ‘first hominin’ presence in Europe [1, 2]
This work explored the interaction of an 800 ps pulsed near IR laser, with emission at 1064 nm, with the contamination and deteriorated layers present in an archaeological Pleistocene bear bone sample of Sierra de Atapuerca, which has undergone severe weathering throughout ages
The laser was operated in burst mode, and laser parameters which avoid damaging the surface of the bone sample were identified
Summary
The Sierra de Atapuerca mountain range has become one of the most famous archaeological regions of the world following the discovery of the ‘first hominin’ presence in Europe [1, 2]. One of the most surprising discoveries at Sierra de Atapuerca is a cavern site named Sima de los Huesos (the Bones Pit). 166 cave bears from the Middle “Vidrio y Materiales del Patrimonio Cultural (VIMPAC)”, Departamento de Historia, Geografía y Comunicación, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N, 09001 Burgos, Spain. The pit contained the remains of approx. 166 cave bears from the Middle “Vidrio y Materiales del Patrimonio Cultural (VIMPAC)”, Departamento de Historia, Geografía y Comunicación, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/N, 09001 Burgos, Spain. 3Área de Historia del Arte and Unidad Asociada de I+D+i al CSIC “Vidrio y Materiales del Patrimonio Cultural (VIMPAC)”, Departamento de Historia, Geografía y Comunicación, Universidad de Burgos, Po Comendadores S/N, 09001 Burgos, Spain. 4Área de Didáctica y Dinamización, Museo de la Evolución Humana, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca no 2, 09002 Burgos, Spain. 5IRAMAT‐CRP2A Laboratory UMR5060 CNRS, Bordeaux Montaigne University, Pessac, France. 6HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000‐809 Évora, Portugal
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