Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neutron activation analysis of ancient Italian tile samples

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fifteen tile samples from archaeological digs in central Italy were analyzed for trace element content using comparative neutron activation analysis. To accommodate the simultaneous irradiation of a large number of samples and standard reference materials, we designed a custom sample holder for the Penn State Breazeale Reactor 2″ × 6″ tube and characterized the thermal and epithermal neutron flux across all sample locations. Analysis of sample irradiation data produced concentration values for 14 elements. Statistical analyses of the data set using agglomerative hierarchical clustering indicated that the samples are from two distinct sites, which was confirmed by provenance information received after analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Perlman I, Asaro F, Michel H (1972) Nuclear applications in art and archaeology. Annu Rev Nucl Part Sci 22:383–426. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ns.22.120172.002123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Perlman I, Asaro F (1969) Pottery analysis by neutron activation. Archaeometry 11:21–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.1969.tb00627.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hevesy G, Levi H (1936) The action of neutrons on the rare earth elements. Det Kgl Dan Vidensk Selsk Methematisk-Fys Meddelelser XIV:1–34

    Google Scholar 

  4. Sayre EV, Dodson RW, Thompson DB (1957) Neutron activation study of Mediterranean potsherds. Am J Archaeol 61:35–41. https://doi.org/10.2307/501078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Glascock MD, Neff H (2003) Neutron activation analysis and provenance research in archaeology. Meas Sci Technol 14:1516. https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/14/9/304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ammerman AJ, Iliopoulos I, Bondioli F et al (2008) The clay beds in the Velabrum and the earliest tiles in Rome. J Roman Archaeol 21:7–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yavar A, Sarmani S, Wood AK et al (2012) Development and implementation of Hogdahl convention and Westcott formalism for k(0)-INAA application at Malaysian Nuclear Agency reactor. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 291:521–527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1574-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Aggarwal CC, Reddy CK (2013) Data clustering: algorithms and applications. CRC Press LLC, Philadelphia

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Greenacre M, Primicerio R (2013) Multivariate analysis of ecological data. Fundación BBVA, Bilbao

    Google Scholar 

  10. Grant CN, Antoine JM (2018) Instrumental neutron activation analysis in forensic science in Jamaica: the case of the Coral Springs beach theft. Forensic Chem 7:88–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forc.2017.10.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Grant CN, Dennis HT, Antoine JMR et al (2013) Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis of twenty-six rice samples analysed by instrumental neutron activation analysis and other techniques. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 297:233–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2379-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear Technology and Applications (2003) Standard test method for determining thermal neutron reaction and fluence rates by radioactivation techniques. ASTM International

  13. ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear Technology and Applications (2010) Standard practice for determining neutron fluence, fluence rate, and spectra by radioactivation techniques. ASTM International

  14. Ünlü K, Pearson C, Hauck DK, Kuniholm PI (2009) Dating volcanic eruptions with tree-ring chemistry. IEEE Potentials 28:36–44. https://doi.org/10.1109/MPOT.2009.934193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Minitab. https://www.minitab.com. Accessed 18 July 2019

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was performed in collaboration with Dr. Rebecca Ammerman and Dr. Albert Ammerman of Colgate University, who kindly provided the samples for analysis. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, Colgate University, and the The Pennsylvania State University Radiation Science and Engineering Center.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Amanda M. Johnsen, Chad B. Durrant & Kenan Ünlü

  2. Radiation Science and Engineering Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Amanda M. Johnsen, Chad B. Durrant & Kenan Ünlü

Authors
  1. Amanda M. Johnsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chad B. Durrant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kenan Ünlü
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amanda M. Johnsen.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Johnsen, A.M., Durrant, C.B. & Ünlü, K. Neutron activation analysis of ancient Italian tile samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 322, 1529–1535 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06893-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06893-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation