Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

X-ray and neutron-based non-invasive analysis of prehistoric stone artefacts: a contribution to understand mobility and interaction networks

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Carbonate-rich archaeological artefacts are difficult to identify and correlate between them and with raw materials of such heterogeneous geological sources, especially when only non-invasive analysis is possible. A novel combination of X-ray and neutron-based non-invasive analysis is implemented and used for the first time to study prehistoric stone idols and vessels, contributing to culture identity, mobility and interaction in the recent Prehistory of Southern Iberia. Elemental composition was obtained by prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) and external beam particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE); homogeneity of the stone artefacts and the presence/absence of internal fractures were obtained by neutron radiography (NR). These atomic and nuclear techniques, simultaneously used for complementary chemical information, have been demonstrated to be of great value as they provide non-destructive compositional information avoiding sample preparation, crucial in so singular and rare objects. The obtained results, especially of PGAA, are very promising and useful in general assessments of provenance. The stone artefacts show signs of both nearby and long-distance procurement, as well as of unknown attribution.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  • Allmäe R, Limbo-Simovart JU, Heapost L, Verš E (2012) The content of chemical elements in archaeological human bones as a source of nutrition research. Pap Anthropol XXI:27–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson IS, McGreevy RL, Bilheux HZ (2009) Neutron imaging and applications. Springer Verlag, NewYork

    Google Scholar 

  • Attanasio D, Boschi C, Bracci S, Cantisani E, Paolucci F (2015) Provenance studies of the marble of ancient sculptures in the tribune of the Uffizi gallery, Florence. Archaeometry 57(S1):74–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banner JL (1995) Application of the trace element and isotope geochemistry of strontium to studies of carbonate diagenesis. Sedimentology 42:805–824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beltrán J, Loza Azuaga ML, Ontiveros Ortega E, Rodríguez Gutiérrez O, Taylor R (2012) The quarrying and use of Marmora in Baetica. An Archaeometry-based Research Project. Italica 1:220–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabral JMP, Vieira MCR, Carreira PM, Figueiredo MO, Pena TPA, Tavares A (1992) Preliminary study on the isotopic and chemical characterization of marbles from Alto Alentejo (Portugal). In: Waelkens M, Herz N, Moens L (eds). Ancient stones: quarrying, trade and provenance: interdisciplinary studies on stones and stone technology in Europe and Near East from the Prehistoric to the Early Christian Period, vol 4. Leuven University Press, Acta Archaeologica Lovaniensia Monographiae, Leuven, pp 191–198

  • Campbell JL, Hopman TL, Maxwell JA, Nejedly Z (2000) The Guelph PIXE software package III: alternative proton database. Nucl Instr Meth B 170:193–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crandell O (2012) Evaluation of PGAA data for provenance of lithic artifacts, Studia UBB. Geologia 57(1):3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dias MI, Prudêncio MI, Valera AC, Lago M, Gouveia MA (2005) Composition, technology and functional features of Chalcolhitic pottery from Perdigões, Reguengos de Monsaraz (Portugal), a preliminary report. Geoarchaeological and Bioarchaeological Studies, Amsterdam, Netherlands 3:161–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Domínguez Bella S (2009) Huellas de cantería romana de mármol en Almadén de la Plata (Sevilla), un patrimonio a conservar Nogales T, Beltrán J. (coords.), Marmora Hispana: Explotación y uso de los materiales pétreos en la Hispania Romana, Roma, 377–390

  • Ehinola OA, Ejeh OI, Oderinde OJ (2016) Geochemical Characterization of the Paleocene Ewekoro Limestone Formation, SW Nigeria: Implications for Provenance, Diagenesis and Depositional Environment. Geo-materials 6:61–77. doi:10.4236/gm.2016.63006

  • Fazekas B, Molnár G, Belgya T, Dabolczi L, Simonits A (1997) Introducing HYPERMET-PC for automatic analysis of complex gamma-ray spectra. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 215:271–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmidth JR, Graff L, Joensu OI (1955) The occurrence of magnesium calcite in nature. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 1:212–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gyódi I, Demeter I, Hollós-Nagy IK, Kovács I, Szőkefalvi-Nagy Z (1999) External-beam PIXE analysis of small sculptures. Nucl Instr Meth B 150:605–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurtado V. (2008) Ídolos, estilos y territorios de los primeros campesinos en el sur peninsular. In: C. Cacho Quesada, R. Maicas Ramos, J. A. Martos y Mª I. Martínez (coord.). Acercándonos al pasado. Prehistoria en 4 actos. Ministerio de Cultura. Museos Estatales. Museo Arqueológico Nacional y CSIC. Edición en CD y web del MAN. http://man.mcu.es/museo/JornadasSeminarios/acercandonos_al_pasado.html

  • Hurtado V (2010) “Representaciones simbólicas, sitios, contextos e identidades territoriales en el Suroeste Peninsular”, Ojos que nunca se cierran: Ídolos en las primeras sociedades campesinas: 16 de Deciembre de 2009. Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid, pp 137–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasztovszky Z, Biró KT, Markó A, Dobosi V (2008) Archaeometry, cold neutron prompt gamma activation analysis—a non-destructive method for characterization of high silica content chipped stone tools and raw materials. Archaeometry 50(1):12–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Kis Z, Szentmiklósi L, Belgya T (2015) NIPS–NORMA station—a combined facility for neutron-based non-destructive element analysis and imaging at the Budapest Neutron Centre. Nucl Instr Meth A 779:116–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koralay T, Kilinçarslan S (2015) Minero-petrographic and isotopic characterization of two antique marble quarries in the Deni̇zli̇ region (western Anatolia, Turkey). Periodico di Mineralogia 84(2):263–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapuente P (1995) Mineralogical, petrographical and geochemical characterization of white marbles from Hispania, Y. Maniatis, N. Herz and Y. Basiakos (coords.), The Study of Marble and Other Stones Used in Antiquity, London, pp 151–160

  • Lapuente P, Turi B (1995) Marbles from Portugal: petrographic and isotopic characterization. Sci Technol Cult Herit 4(2):33–42

  • Mañas Romero I (2012) Marmora de las canteras de Estremoz, Alconera y Sintra: su uso y difusión, Ed. V. García-Entero. El marmor en Hispania: explotación, uso y difusión en época romana, UNED, Madrid, pp 331–346 

  • Martins R, Lopes L (2011) Mármores de Portugal. Rochas & Equipamentos 100:32–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Morbidelli P, Tucci P, Imperatori C, Polvorinos A, Preite Martinez M, Azzaro E, Hernandez MJ (2007) Roman quarries of the Iberian peninsula: ‘Anasol’ and ‘Anasol’- type. Eur J Mineral 19(1):125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odriozola CP, Hurtado V, Dias MI, Valera AC (2008) Produção e consumo de campaniformes no vale do Guadiana: uma perspectiva ibérica. Eds. NIA-Era Arqueologia. Apontamentos de Arqueologia e Património 3:45–52

  • Onimisi M, Obaje NG, Daniel A (2013) Geochemical and petrogenetic characteristics of the marble deposit in Itobe area, Kogi state, Central Nigeria. Adv Appl Sci Res 4(5):44–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Origlia F, Gliozzo E, Meccheri M, Spangenberg JE, Turbanti Memmi I, Papi E (2011) Mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical characterisation of white and coloured Iberian marbles in the context of the provenancing of some artefacts from Thamusida (Kenitra, Morocco). Eur J Mineral 23:857–869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polvorinos del Río A, Arnedo MJH, Hurtado Pérez V, López JÁ, González MF, Gómez R (2010) Variabilidad espectral VIS-SWIR de objetos líticos de carácter cultual en el yacimiento calcolítico de la Pijotilla. Actas - VIII Congreso Ibérico de Arqueometria. Eds. Carrasco ME, Romero RL, Dias-Tendero MA, Garcia, JC. Teruel, Spain, pp 379–386

  • Prudêncio MI, Roldán C, Dias MI, Marques R, Eixea A, Villaverde V (2016) A micro-invasive approach using INAA for new insights into Palaeolithic flint archaeological artefacts. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 308:195–203. doi:10.1007/s10967-015-4294-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rehren T, Belgya T, Jambon A, Káli G, Kasztovszky Z, Kis Z, Kovács I, Maróti B, Martinón-Torres M, Miniaci G, Pigott VC, Radivojević M, Rosta L, Szentmiklósi L, Szökefalvi-Nagy Z (2013) 5,000 years old Egyptian iron beads made from hammered meteoritic iron. J Archaeol Sci 40:4785–4792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Révay Z (2009) Determining elemental compositions using prompt γ activation analysis. Anal Chem 81:6851–6859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Révay Z, Belgya T (2004) Principles of PGAA method. In: Molnár GL (ed) Handbook of prompt gamma activation, analysis with neutron beams. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 1–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Révay Z, Firestone RB, Belgya T, Molnár GL (2004) Prompt gamma-ray spectrum catalog. In: Molnár GL (ed) Handb. Prompt gamma act. Anal. Neutron beams. Springer US, Boston, pp 173–364

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Révay Z, Belgya T, Molnár GL (2005) Application of Hypermet-PC in PGAA. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 265:261–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen O, Desmons J, Fettes D (2007) Metacarbonate and related rocks. Provisional recommendations by the IUGS sub-commission on the systematics of metamorphic rocks. Web Version of 1.07. https://www.bgs.ac.uk/scmr/docs/papers/paper_7.pdf.Accessed 02 May 2016

  • Schindelin J, Arganda-Carreras I, Frise E, Kaynig V, Longair M, Pietzsch T et al (2012) Fiji: an open-source platform for biological-image analysis. Nat Method 9:676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szentmiklósi L, Belgya T, Révay Z, Kis Z (2010) Upgrade of the prompt gamma activation analysis and the neutron-induced prompt gamma spectroscopy facilities at the Budapest research reactor. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 286:501–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taelman D (2014) Contribution to the use of marble in central-Lusitania in roman times: the stone architectural decoration of Ammaia (São Salvador da Aramenha, Portugal). Archivo Español de Arqueologia:175–194

  • Taelman D, Elburg M, Smet I, De Paepe P, Luís L, Vanhaecke F, Vermeulen F (2013) Roman marble from Lusitania: petrographical and geochemical characterisation. J Archaeol Sci 5:2227–2236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor ST, McLennan SM (1981) The composition and evolution of the continental crust: rare earth element evidence from sedimentary rocks. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A 301:381–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd TW (1966) Petrographic classification of carbonate rocks. J Sediment Petrol 36(2):317–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulens K, Moens L, Dams R (1994) Study of element distributions in weathered marble crusts using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 9:1243–1248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valera AC (2012a) Ditches, pits and hypogea: new data and new problems in South Portugal Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic funerary practices. In: Gibaja JF, Carvalho AF, Chambom P (eds) Funerary Practices from The Mesolithic to The Chalcolithic of the Northwest Mediterranean, vol 2417. BAR International Series, Oxford, pp 103–122 

  • Valera AC (2012b) Mind the gap: Neolithic and Chalcolithic enclosures of South Portugal. In: Gibson A (ed) Enclosing the Neolithic. Recent studies in Britain and Europe, vol 2440. BAR International Series, Oxford, pp 165–183

  • Valera AC (2015) The diversity of ideotechnic objects at Perdigões enclosure: a first inventory of items and problems. Arpi 3:238–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Valera AC, Silva AM, Márquez Romero JEM (2014a) The temporality of Perdigões enclosures: absolute chronology of the structures and social practices. SPAL 23:11–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valera AC, Silva AM, Cunha C, Evangelista LS (2014b) Funerary practices and body manipulations at Neolithic and chalcolithic Perdigões ditched enclosures (South Portugal). In: Valera AC (ed) Recent prehistoric enclosures and funerary practices, vol 2676. BAR International Series, Oxford, pp 37–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Wavemetric Inc., IGORPro (2013) 10200 SW Nimbus, G-7 Portland, OR97223 USA, http://www.wavemetrics.com/products/igorpro/

Download references

Acknowledgements

C2TN/IST authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT support through the UID/Multi/04349/2013 project. Special thanks also to the CHARISMA project cofunded by the European Commission within the action ”Research Infrastructures” of the “Capacities”, at Budapest Neutron Center, GA No. FP7-228330.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares—C2TN. Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear. Instituto Superior Técnico, Polo de Loures, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139.7). 2695-066 Bobadela, Loures, Portugal

    M. I. Dias & M. I. Prudêncio

  2. Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

    Z. S. Kasztovszky, B. Maróti & I. Harsányi

  3. Era Arqueologia, Núcleo de Investigação Arqueológica—NIA. Cç. de Santa Catarina, 9C, 1495-705 Cruz Quebrada—Dafundo—Portugal. Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behavior (ICArHEB, Universidade do Algarve, Campo de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal

    A. C. Valera

  4. Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

    I. Kovács & Z. Szokefalvi-Nagy

Authors
  1. M. I. Dias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. S. Kasztovszky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. I. Prudêncio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. C. Valera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. Maróti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. I. Harsányi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. I. Kovács
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Z. Szokefalvi-Nagy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. I. Dias.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dias, M.I., Kasztovszky, Z.S., Prudêncio, M.I. et al. X-ray and neutron-based non-invasive analysis of prehistoric stone artefacts: a contribution to understand mobility and interaction networks. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 10, 1359–1373 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0457-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0457-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation