Archaeometry最新文献

This study aimed to conduct an in-depth and systematic literature review dealing with toxicological analyses on human bone tissue and focusing on the forensic toxicological and archaeotoxicological field. Several studies have focused their research on medical drugs, drugs of abuse, and trace elements on both human cadavers and skeletal remains, but a few studies tried to detect some traces of officinal plants in skeletal remains. The present paper illustrates the significant advances made in recent years in the field of bone toxicology considering all cases reported in the literature. After the literature review, the study investigated 40 articles that applied bone toxicology to both recent and ancient human remains, researching the presence of trace elements, stable isotopes, medical drugs, drugs of abuse, and active principles of medical plants. This allowed us to evaluate the distribution of skeletal remains studied around the world and throughout history, and to highlight the differences between trace elements/stable isotopes and medical drugs/drugs of abuse. Finally, this study permitted us to gather more information on molecule consumption (acute/single and/or occasional/chronic drug use) in this unconventional biological matrix, both in forensic cases and very ancient human remains, suggesting that the analytes detected in bones should be referred to occasional or chronic intake of substances.

During the 15th and into the mid-16th centuries, tin-glazed terracotta sculptures were celebrated for their luminous colours, perceived durability, and technical ingenuity of the novel medium. Although in high demand, the supply of these pieces was restricted because of the secrecy of the recipes used by the pioneers of the technique on the Italian peninsula, namely the Della Robbia family. As the Della Robbia workshop procedures did not come down to us in a written form, art historical scholarship has focused on retrieving the original recipes through scientific analyses of surviving pieces. Building on those investigations, this article addresses the technique of another master of tin-glazed terracotta sculpture, namely Benedetto Buglioni (1459/1460–1521). Buglioni likely experienced the Della Robbia production first hand as he trained in Andrea della Robbia's (1435–1525) workshop. He began his independent sculptural activity in the 1480s. For the present study, two of his figures, now in Polish collections, dated to the most prolific period of his artistic career, have been examined using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The interpretation of the results is informed by previous examinations of the Della Robbia glazes, as well as by contemporary written sources, including an early 16th-century recipe book from Montelupo, Tuscany. The present study reconsiders the understanding of the Buglioni glazes as merely derivative and inferior to the surfaces of the Della Robbia sculptures. The physical examination of Benedetto Buglioni's works reveals a high degree of experimentation in his approach to the medium of tin-glazed terracotta.

Due to the lack of formal historical records, the pre-Columbian history of the American continent is often referred to as prehistory. The large population decline following the arrival of Europeans, mainly due to the extinction of several cultural groups, combined with the lack of written records, means that researchers may often have to rely primarily on archaeological evidence. For this reason, the radiocarbon dating technique has been crucial for deciphering America's pre-Columbian history. Technical advances impacted the accessibility of radiocarbon dating, but the influence of in-house facilities cannot be overlooked. This short review explores the evolution of radiocarbon dating in Brazil, where Latin America's first ¹⁴C-AMS facility, LAC-UFF, emerged, fostering collaborations within South America and overseas. Besides facilitating analyses and reducing costs, the LAC-UFF has empowered a new generation of radiocarbon researchers and aided archaeologists through workshops, summer schools, and training programs. Some recent case studies are discussed as examples of the diversity of applications developed by the LAC-UFF group. Sustained public investment in cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary research is a key factor in ensuring a bright future for radiocarbon dating in South America, strengthened by international collaborations.

FTIR analysis has been proven to be a useful tool in measuring the firing temperature of archaeological sediments and ceramics. A recent development of this method is the finding of a negative correlation between absorptivity of 1030 cm⁻¹ band and the firing temperatures. With potassium ferricyanide (K₃[Fe (CN)₆]) added as an internal standard, the 1030 cm⁻¹ absorptivity can be measured quantitatively to reflect firing temperature of samples. However, the following investigations show that the 1030 cm⁻¹ absorptivity can also be influenced by a series of other factors including homogeneity of sample, the mixing duration between sample, internal standard, and KBr, as well as grinding time of sample and internal standard. This research quantifies the influence of these factors and recommends the best practice for using this method. The heat-induced absorptivity change of characteristic bands of archaeological clay-based materials is then monitored, revealing that 1030 cm⁻¹ band was the most optimal temperature indicator. Based on a series of Kruskal-Wallis one-way analyses, it is determined that for samples fired over 400°C, the absorptivity ratio of 1030 cm⁻¹/778 cm⁻¹ can be used to estimate its original firing temperature. However, for those fired below 400°C, K₃[Fe (CN)₆] has to be added and the ratio of 1030 cm⁻¹/2117 cm⁻¹ is more proper for quantifying its original firing temperature. The sediments from two different sites were then artificially fired to varied temperatures and tested following the analytical protocol established in this research. The results demonstrate the high accuracy of this method and its great potential in future study of ancient pyrotechnologies.

A wide production of ecclesiastical artefacts is traceable in Sicily between the 17th and 19th centuries, admirable in many diocesan museums. Nevertheless, these artefacts were never studied from an archaeometric point of view: Beyond their historical value, it is time to understand whether the information concerning the decorating gemstones is reliable. In situ investigations through portable instrumentations (Raman spectroscopy and portable X-ray fluorescence) were performed on the gems decorating monstrances, a reliquary, and an archbishop's insignia, kept in two museums at Caltagirone (Sicily). The analyses in some cases confirmed the identification, whereas in others they contradicted the pre-existing information.

We revisit the chemical data on imitation Japanese bronze mirrors of the Kofun period (c. 300–538 CE), which Hisao Mabuchi (馬淵久夫) has used to suggest that these mirrors were made from broken imported Han-style mirrors diluted with additional copper. Using a different approach, we confirm that the composition of these mirrors is consistent with Mabuchi's suggestion. In addition, we can use data from our model to take this analysis further, by combining the elemental and lead isotope data, determining how much each source contributes to the lead in the mirrors, and calculating the possible isotope composition of the lead in the imported mirrors and in the added copper. This shows that both the mirrors and the added copper are unlikely to contain Japanese lead. As Mabuchi suggested, there appears to have been a trade in both Han-style mirrors and copper ingots from China to Japan in the Kofun period. Not only does this work support the previous conclusions, but it also sets out a new methodological approach that can be used to further such research.

The Central Plains of China have a long history of using glazed tiles on high-level architectural structures. This architectural practice also had a profound impact on ancient Tibet. This study selected glazed tiles belonging to the Tubo period (7th–9th centuries CE), unearthed from the Wenjiangduo site, Lhasa city, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. A series of scientific analyses are presented, including X-ray fluorescence, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, dilatometry, and multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results reveal SiO₂–Na₂O, SiO₂–PbO, SiO₂–Na₂O–PbO, and SiO₂–CaO–Na₂O systems in the glazes. The bodies can be divided into two categories: calcareous and noncalcareous. The original firing temperatures were likely between 900°C and 1000°C. The lead isotopes indicate that the provenance of lead material for glaze was in Tibet. The comparisons of glazing techniques reveal influences from the Central Plains of China and South and Southeast Asia, and provide new insights into the cultural interaction between Tibet and its surrounding regions in the Tubo period.

This article examines the history of the application of archaeological science in studies of pre-Hispanic pottery from the Andes, South America, through academic publications from the 1960s to the present. It details the questions addressed by, analytical tools used for and theoretical underpinnings of investigations into provenance and technology. Two case studies from this literature review illustrate how taking an archaeological science approach to provenance and technology contributes to our understanding of broader socio-cultural issues. The results underscore the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach and highlight significant regional differences in research focus and methodology. The results also emphasize the need for transdisciplinary work and a critical assessment of archaeometric techniques.

Located in Qingyang, Gansu province, China, the Nanzuo site on the Loess Plateau is a large-scale, high-ranking central settlement of the late Yangshao period with capital city characteristics. We used a thermal dilatometer, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectrometer to analyse the firing temperature, composition, microstructure and phase composition of the white potteries in the Nanzuo site. The results indicate that kaolin, china stone and local fusible white clay are the raw materials of the body. The surface coatings of white potteries are formed from shells. The main constituents that make up the internal surface coating are aragonite and calcite, which are derived from the prismatic and nacreous layers of shells. The external surface coating is composed of CaCO₃ nanoparticles that arrange themselves as aragonite tablets within the nacreous layer. This exceptional pottery-making technique is exclusive to Nanzuo and has not been reported at any other site in the world. This technique is significant for researchers to deepen our understanding of pottery-making technology history in China.

This study aims to investigate ancient Indian copper metallurgy based on selected copper artifacts recovered from India. The collected objects belong to the period c. 1200 BCE to 400 CE. The paper discusses the analysis of seven artifacts from two archaeological sites (Agiabir and Raipura) around the Varanasi region in Northern India. The study explores the manufacturing techniques and alloying practices applied to the artifacts by analyzing the excavated objects using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The microstructure of the artifacts revealed the practice of annealing, casting, and forging. Elemental analysis of these objects shows that most of the artifacts are copper–tin alloys, having varying amounts of tin. This study indicates that the tin amount has been varied according to the object's functionality.