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Open AccessArticle
Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative EDXRF Analysis for Provenance Study of Archaeological Ceramics
by
Maja Gajic-Kvascev
Maja Gajic-Kvascev 1,*,
Velibor Andric
Velibor Andric 1,
Radmila Jancic-Heinemann
Radmila Jancic-Heinemann 2,
Ognjen Mladenovic
Ognjen Mladenovic 3 and
Aleksandar Bulatovic
Aleksandar Bulatovic 3
1
Department of Chemical Dynamics and Permanent Education, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
2
Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
3
Institute of Archaeology, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2024, 17(15), 3725; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153725 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 June 2024
/
Revised: 24 July 2024
/
Accepted: 25 July 2024
/
Published: 27 July 2024
Abstract
The most common scientific analysis of archaeological ceramics aims to determine the raw material source and/or production technology. Scientists and archaeologists widely use XRF-based techniques as a tool in a provenance study. After conducting XRF analysis, the results are often analyzed using multivariate analysis in addition to interpretation and conclusions. Various multivariate techniques have already been applied in archaeological ceramics provenance studies to reveal different raw material sources, identify imported pieces, or determine different production recipes. This study aims to evaluate the results of multivariate analysis in the provenance study of ceramics that belong to three cultures that settled in the same area during various prehistoric periods. Portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pEDXRF) was used to determine the elemental composition of the ceramic material. The ceramic material was prepared in two different ways. The ceramic body material was ground into powder, homogenized, and then pressed into tablets. After that, the same fragments are polished in suitable places. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the tablets and polished pieces. The results were subjected to both unsupervised and supervised multivariate analysis. Based on the results, it was concluded that qualitative analysis of the well-prepared shards’ surface using EDXRF spectrometry could be utilized in provenance studies, even when the ceramic assemblages were made of similar raw materials.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Gajic-Kvascev, M.; Andric, V.; Jancic-Heinemann, R.; Mladenovic, O.; Bulatovic, A.
Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative EDXRF Analysis for Provenance Study of Archaeological Ceramics. Materials 2024, 17, 3725.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153725
AMA Style
Gajic-Kvascev M, Andric V, Jancic-Heinemann R, Mladenovic O, Bulatovic A.
Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative EDXRF Analysis for Provenance Study of Archaeological Ceramics. Materials. 2024; 17(15):3725.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153725
Chicago/Turabian Style
Gajic-Kvascev, Maja, Velibor Andric, Radmila Jancic-Heinemann, Ognjen Mladenovic, and Aleksandar Bulatovic.
2024. "Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative EDXRF Analysis for Provenance Study of Archaeological Ceramics" Materials 17, no. 15: 3725.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153725
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