OLDAPS – Obsidian Least Destructive Analysis Provenancing System


OLDAPS – Obsidian Least Destructive Analysis Provenancing System

Eder, F. M.; Neelmeijer, C.; Pearce, N. J. G.; Sterba, J. H.; Bichler, M.; Merchel, S.

The natural volcanic glass obsidian is one of the classical objects of archaeometric analyses. Reliable provenancing by means of the highly specific chemical composition, the “chemical fingerprint”, can provide information about trading routes, extension of territory, long-distance contacts and the mobility of prehistoric people.

Since the pioneer work of Cann and Renfrew in 1964 [1] various analytical methods have been employed on obsidian samples in order to locate their provenance. The existing data already offers important knowledge about long-distance interactions between prehistoric human populations. However, most applied techniques just show a small part of the element spectrum. Latest studies showed that published results gained by different analytical methods are not consistent due to systematic errors [2-3].

Therefore, the application of three complementary analytical techniques on the same set of raw material samples allows both a better characterization of obsidian sources and a comparison and validation of analytical results. The aim of this multi-methodical approach is to apply in particular:

  • Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) comprising of Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Particle Induced Gamma-ray Emission (PIGE),
  • Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA),
  • Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)

to detect a maximum element spectrum and to compare element concentrations determined with at least two analytical techniques. This approach should check the accuracy and reliability of analytical results and should show a maximum of compositional differences between European obsidian sources to reveal the most characteristic “chemical fingerprint” composed of more than 40 elements.

These investigations are part of a new multi-methodical analytical database called the “Obsidian Least Destructive Analysis Provenancing System” (OLDAPS). This novel scientific approach for provenancing obsidian artefacts found in archaeological contexts contributes to both conservation and prehistoric research by ensuring a minimum of destruction to gain a maximum of information. Besides, it enables to assess analytical accuracies of our archaeometric elemental analyses.

For this study, IBA, INAA and LA-ICP-MS measurements have been applied to the most relevant obsidian sources in central and southern Europe. IBA studies have been carried out using the external 4 MeV proton beam of the 6 MV Tandem accelerator of the Ion Beam Centre of HZDR. INAA investigations have been performed in the TRIGA Mark II 250 kW research reactor of the Atominstitut in Vienna. LA-ICP-MS measurements have been taken with the Thermo Element 2 ICP-MS coupled to an ArF gas Excimer laser system at the Aberystwyth University.

[1] J.R. Cann, C. Renfrew, Proc. Prehist. Soc. 30, (1964) 111-131.
[2] R.G.V. Hancock, T. Carter, J. Archaeol. Sci. 37, (2010) 243–250.
[3] G. Poupeau et al., J. Archaeol. Sci. 37, (2010) 2705-2720.

Keywords: PIXE; PIGE; archaeometry

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