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Remote detection and identification of organic remains: an assessment of archaeological potential
Author(s) -
Ruffell Alastair
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
archaeological prospection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.785
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1099-0763
pISSN - 1075-2196
DOI - 10.1002/arp.175
Subject(s) - laser , microscope , remote sensing , raman spectroscopy , ultraviolet , optics , spectroscopy , methane , materials science , environmental science , geology , computer science , chemistry , physics , astronomy , organic chemistry
Abstract This paper reviews the various methods of using natural or induced light spectra as analytical tools in forensic archaeology. Chemical identification can be made at long range and wide scale (tens of metres) down to short range and very small scale (nanometres). The identification of organic gases and materials has used either chemical capture and chromatography, induced (laser or ultraviolet) light sources or laser Raman microscope spectroscopy. The remote gas detection method relies on the identification of atmospheric gases by their characteristic light spectra. Modern spectroscopes can detect gases down to a few parts per million of an atmosphere. When the light source (wavelength) and direction is controlled, so laser‐induced spectroscopy may be used to monitor the emission of gases such methane from buried organic remains. In order to identify the location of buried organic remains, a grid of sample points must be established using a base line or global positioning system. When matched to base line or ground‐positioning systems, such data can be manipulated by geographical information system packages. This would enable pinpointing of anomalies for excavation or avoidance. Microscope‐based laser Raman spectroscopy can be used to directly analyse captured gases, swabs and surfaces without the problems of long‐path detection. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.