APPLICATION OF INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL METHODS TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SYRIAN CERAMICS

ABSTRACT Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been utilized in the analysis of thirty-seven archaeological ceramics fragment samples from Tal Al-Wardiate site, Missiaf town, Hamma city, Syria. Thirty six chemical elements were determined. These elemental concentrations have been processed using two multivariate statistical methods, cluster and factor analysis in order to determine similarities and correlation between the various samples. Factor analysis confirms that samples were correctly classified by cluster analysis. The results showed that samples can be considered to be manufactured using three different sources of raw material.