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Post‐Depositional Elemental Alterations in Pottery: Neutron Activation Analyses of Surface and Core Samples *
Author(s) -
Schwedt A.,
Mommsen H.,
Zacharias N.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2004.00145.x
Subject(s) - provenance , pottery , sedimentary depositional environment , neutron activation analysis , geology , neutron activation , mineralogy , geochemistry , archaeology , chemistry , neutron , radiochemistry , geomorphology , geography , physics , structural basin , quantum mechanics
From 38 sherds with ‘corroded’ surfaces, two samples per sherd were examined using Neutron Activation Analysis, one from the surface and one from the core of each sherd, in order to analyse post‐depositional alterations of minor and trace elements. The most striking effect was that a leaching of Ca could be found at the surface. Another group of elements that is severely affected are the alkali metals, with Cs and Rb showing the strongest changes. A third conspicuous group of elements are the Rare Earth Elements. Finally, the effect of such alterations on a statistical data evaluation to classify pottery according to provenance is investigated.