Analysis of Roman and other archaeological glasses by 12 MeV proton activation analysis

Abstract 14 elements were determined, at trace level, in Roman and other archaeological glasses by 12 MeV proton activation analysis. The results show that the natural glass from Mongolia and Brazilian quartz are the purest of all the samples analysed with detection limits at 1 ppm level for Ti, V, Cr, As, Sr, Y and Zr. In several cut pieces of one variety of Roman glass, using the concentration of Ca, Ti, Fe, Sr and Sb as markers, the homogeneity of glass production and their potential use in provenance studies were discussed.