Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Texture analysis of bronze age axes by neutron diffraction

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Neutron diffraction has been utilised as a non-invasive diagnostic tool to gain insight into the ancient metallurgic and manufacturing techniques employed for the production of three bronze age axes from archaic to late bronze age (20th to 13th Century BC). The analysed bronze artefacts are from the “Terramare” and other bronze age settlements near Modena, Italy. Neutron diffraction provides the alloy and phase compositions in a totally non destructive approach, without interference from surface alteration and corrosion layers. Furthermore, neutron based texture analysis, with the advantage of large grain statistics deep into the bulk, provides details of the production techniques that can complement traditional metallographic examinations, and may provide unique information for samples that cannot suffer invasive treatments.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E. Ciliberto, G. Spoto, Modern Analytical Methods in Art and Archaeology (Wiley, New York, 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  2. D.A. Scott, J. Podany, B. Considine, Ancient and Historic Metals – Conservation and Scientific Research (Getty Conservation Institute, 1994)

  3. D.A. Scott, Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals (Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1991)

    Google Scholar 

  4. E. Deschler-Erb, E.H. Lehmann, L. Pernet, P. Vontobel, S. Hartmann, Archaeometry 46, 647 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. W. Kockelmann, E. Pantos, A. Kirfel, in Radiation in Art and Archaeometry, ed. by D.C. Creagh, D.A. Bradley (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000), pp. 347–377

  6. R.A. Young, The Rietveld method (Int. Union Crystallog., Oxford University Press, 1993)

    Google Scholar 

  7. W. Kockelmann, S. Siano, M. Schreiner, Studio e Conservazione di Manufatti Archeologico (Nardine Editore, Firenze, 2004), pp. 431–451

    Google Scholar 

  8. W. Kockelmann, S. Siano, L. Bartoli, D. Visser, P. Hallebeek, R. Traum, R. Linke, M. Schreiner, A. Kirfel, Appl. Phys. A 83, 175 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. L. Cartechini, R. Rinaldi, W. Kockelmann, S. Bonamore, D. Manconi, I. Borgia, P. Rocchi, B.G. Brunetti, A. Sgamenllotti, Appl. Phys. A 83, 631 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. H.-R. Wenk, P. Van Houtte, Rep. Prog. Phys. 67, 1367 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. S. Siano, L. Bartoli, L.R. Santisteban, W. Kockelmann, M.R. Daymond, M. Miccio, G. De Marinis, Archaeometry 48, 77 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. X. Yanxia, L. Lutterotti, H.R. Wenk, F. Kovacs, J. Mater. Sci. 39, 3329 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. S. Siano, L. Bartoli, M. Zoppi, W. Kockelmann, M. Daymond, J.A. Dann, M.G. Garagnani, M. Miccio, Proc. Archaeometall. Eur. 2, 319 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  14. G.L. Carancini, Le Terramare: La più antica civiltà Padana, ed. by M. Bernabò Brea, A. Cardarelli, M. Cremaschi (Electa, Milano, 1997), pp. 379–404

  15. S. Giovannini, PhD Thesis, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (2006)

  16. R. Arletti, L. Cartechini, S. Giovannini, R. Rinaldi, W. Kockelmann, A. Cardarelli, Nuovo Cim. C 30, 11 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  17. A.C. Larson, R.B. Von Dreele, GSAS: General Structure Analysis System Report, LAUR 86-748 (Los Alamos National Laboratories, USA, 1986), http://www.ccp14.ac.uk

  18. B.H. Toby, J. Appl. Cryst. 34, 210 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. P. Day, J.E. Enderby, W.G. Williams, L.C. Chapon, A.C. Hannon, P.G. Radaelli, A.K. Soper, Neutron News 15, 19 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. W. Kockelmann, L.C. Chapon, P.G. Radaelli, Physica B 385–386, 639 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  21. L. Lutterotti, MAUD, material analysis using diffraction (www.ing.unitn.it/∼luttero/maud/index.html)

  22. S. Matthies, G.W. Vinel, Phys. Stat. Solidi B 112, K111 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. U.F. Kocks, C.N. Tomé, H.-R. Wenk, Texture and Anisotropy (University Press, Cambridge, 1998)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  24. G. Artioli, M. Dugnani, T. Hansen, L. Lutterotti, A. Pedrotti, G. Sperl, La mummia dell’età del rame. 2. Nuove ricerche sull’uomo venuto dal ghiaccio ed. by A. Fleckinger (Folio Verlag, Bolzano, 2003) Vol. 3, pp. 9–22

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    R. Arletti, S. Giovannini & A. Cardarelli

  2. Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari, CNR, Perugia, Italy

    L. Cartechini

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Centro di Eccellenza SMAArt, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    R. Rinaldi

  4. ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, UK

    W. Kockelmann

Authors
  1. R. Arletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Cartechini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Rinaldi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Giovannini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W. Kockelmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Cardarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Cartechini.

Additional information

PACS

61.12.Ld; 81.05.Bx

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arletti, R., Cartechini, L., Rinaldi, R. et al. Texture analysis of bronze age axes by neutron diffraction. Appl. Phys. A 90, 9–14 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-007-4225-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-007-4225-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation