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Combined elemental analysis of ancient glass beads by means of ion beam, portable XRF, and EPMA techniques

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Abstract

Ion beam analysis (IBA)- and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)-based techniques have been well adopted in cultural-heritage-related analytical studies covering a wide range of diagnostic role, i.e., from screening purposes up to full quantitative characterization. In this work, a systematic research was carried out towards the identification and evaluation of the advantages and the limitations of laboratory-based (IBA, electron probe microanalyzer) and portable (milli-XRF and micro-XRF) techniques. The study focused on the analysis of an Archaic glass bead collection recently excavated from the city of Thebes (mainland, Greece), in order to suggest an optimized and synergistic analytical methodology for similar studies and to assess the reliability of the quantification procedure of analyses conducted in particular by portable XRF spectrometers. All the employed analytical techniques and methodologies proved efficient to provide in a consistent way characterization of the glass bead composition, with analytical range and sensitivity depending on the particular technique. The obtained compositional data suggest a solid basis for the understanding of the main technological features related to the raw major and minor materials utilized for the manufacture of the Thebian ancient glass bead collection.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Project “DEMOEREUNA” funded by NCSR “Demokritos” (2007–2008). Further support to this work was partially provided by the FP7/REGPOT LIBRA Project (grant 230123) and by the project ATT_29, PEP Attikis, cofunded by the Greek General Secreteriat of Research and Technology, Ministry of Development and EU. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the Greek Ministry of Culture for providing the permission for the study of the ancient glass beads collection, and also to M. Papageorgiou for having taken the eye-bead photos.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nondestructive Analyses, Institute of Nuclear Physics, N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”, 15310, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece

    D. Sokaras, A. G. Karydas & V. Kantarelou

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Ioannina, 451 10, Ioannina, Greece

    A. Oikonomou & K. Beltsios

  3. Institute of Materials Science, N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”, 15310, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece

    N. Zacharias

  4. Laboratory of Archaeometry, Department of History, Archeology and Cultural Resources Management, 24 100, Kalamata, Greece

    N. Zacharias

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  1. D. Sokaras
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  2. A. G. Karydas
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  3. A. Oikonomou
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  4. N. Zacharias
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  5. K. Beltsios
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  6. V. Kantarelou
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Correspondence to D. Sokaras.

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Sokaras, D., Karydas, A.G., Oikonomou, A. et al. Combined elemental analysis of ancient glass beads by means of ion beam, portable XRF, and EPMA techniques. Anal Bioanal Chem 395, 2199–2209 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3156-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3156-3

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