0000000000223415
AUTHOR
Emilia Hernandez
Indirect chronology method employing rare earth elements to identify Sagunto Castle mortar construction periods
A novel indirect chronology method has been developed to identify Sagunto Castle construction periods. The method is based on the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine rare earth elements (REE) and other trace elements in mortars. Additionally, a no destructive geochemical analysis based on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was employed for major elements determination. Collected chemical data were processed through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to highlight any differences among the mortars belonging to different buildings and construction periods. The results show that PCA analysis permits to discriminate construction periods according to mortar sample REE …
Analysis of Sagunto Ibero-Roman votive bronze statuettes by portable X-ray fluorescence
Abstract The main objective of this work was the study of chemical composition of an important collection of Ibero-Roman votive bronze statuettes exposed in the Archaeological Museum of Sagunto (Spain). Precision and accuracy of the measurements were obtained developing a proper analytical method, also avoiding any possible damage to the studied objects using a portable energy dispersive X- ray fluorescence system. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to discriminate between groups based on ratios Fe/Cu, Pb/Cu, Sn/Cu, Ag/Cu, Ni/Cu and Impurities/Cu were employed to observe differences between the used smelting, manufacturing processes and raw materials. The characterisation of bronze statuet…
Chemical and mineralogical analyses on stones from Sagunto Castle (Spain)
Abstract For the first time, an archaeometric study was carried out on the carbonate rock ashlars of the Sagunto Castle. The studied site is one of the most important and best preserved Spanish archaeological and architectural monuments, characterized by different construction phases from the Roman period to Modern Ages. Forty samples collected from thirteen different structures of Sagunto Castle and two quarries, located in the Sagunto's hill were used for comparative purposes. The samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine their mineralogical and elemental composition. The obtained data show similar chemical…
An innovative multi-analytical approach based on spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques to study a complex Roman amphorae collection
Abstract An innovative multi-analytical approach for the classification of ancient pottery sherds was tested. Twenty Roman amphorae fragments belonging to different known typologies and twenty-seven unclassified ones from a complex Sagunto Archaeological Museum (Spain) collection were studied by multielement analysis (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), Fourier-transform near infrared spectroscopy and voltammetry of immobilized microparticles employing a minimal amount of sample. Chemometric analysis based on principal component analysis allowed the identification of most of the unclassified samples, proving the importance and reliability of th…