Abstract
Edward Hall’s abstract for his 1960 paper entitled “X-ray fluorescent analysis applied to archaeology” in the journal Archaeometry is just as appropriate half a century later. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) is even more “well established” now, but is “not suitable for some projects” even though it might seem so, and archaeologists might think XRF is really appropriate. This volume is dedicated to issues in XRF analysis in geoarchaeology in particular. How does XRF work, and more importantly when and where is it appropriate? We have attempted to convey this without using physical science jargon, although it was difficult at many points. I have provided a glossary at the end of the volume to help in this direction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Cesareo, R., Ridolfi, S., Marabelli, M., Castellano, A., Buccolieri, G., Donativi, M., Gigante, G.E., Brunetti, A., and Medina M.A.R., (2008), Portable systems for energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of works of art. In Potts, P.J., and West, M. (Eds.), Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: capabilities for in situ analysis, (pp. 206-246). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Davis, M.K., Jackson, T.L., Shackley, M.S., Teague, T., and Hampel, J.H., (1998), Factors affecting the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis of archaeological obsidian. In Shackley, M.S. (Ed.), Archaeological obsidian studies: method and theory, (pp. 59–80). New York: Plenum.
Eerkens, J.W., Ferguson, J.R., Glascock, M.D., Skinner, C.E., and Waechter, S.A., (2007), Reduction strategies and geochemical characterization of lithic assemblages: a comparison of three case studies from Western North America. American Antiquity, 72, 585–597.
Glascock, M.D., Braswell, G.E., and Cobean, R.H., (1998), A systematic approach to obsidian source provenance. In Shackley, M.S. (Ed.), Archaeological obsidian studies: method and theory, (pp. 15–66). New York: Plenum.
Hall, E.T., (1960), X-ray fluorescent analysis applied to archaeology. Archaeometry 3, 29–37.
Hall, M.E., (2001), Pottery styles during the early Jomon Period: geochemical perspectives on the Moroiso and Ukishima Pottery Styles. Archaeometry 43, 59–75.
Hughes, R.E., (1984), Obsidian studies in the Great Basin: problems and prospects. In Hughes, R.E. (Ed.), Obsidian studies in the Great Basin, (pp. 1–26). Berkeley: Contributions of the Univesity of California Archaeological Research Facility 45.
Jenkins, R., (1981), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. New York: Wiley.
Lundblad, S.P., Mills, P.R., and Hon, K., (2008), Analysing archaeological basalt using non-destructive energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF): effects of post-depositional chemical weathering and sample size on analytical precision. Archaeometry, 50, 1–11.
Neff, H. (Ed.), (1992), Chemical characterization of ceramic pastes in archaeology. Monographs in World Archaeology 7. Madison: Prehistory Press.
Phillips, S.C., and Speakman, R.J., (2009), Initial source evaluation of archaeological obsidian from the Kuril Islands of the Russian Far East using portable XRF. Journal of Archaeological Science 36, 1256–1263.
Pollard, A.M., (1996), The geochemistry of clays and provenance of ceramics. In Pollard, A.M., and Heron, C. (Eds.), Archaeological chemistry, (pp. 104–147). Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.
Potts, P.J., and West, M. (Eds.), (2008), Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: capabilities for in situ analysis. Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Shackley, M.S., (1998), Current issues and future directions in archaeological volcanic glass studies: an introduction. In Shackley, M.S. (Ed.), Archaeological obsidian studies: method and theory. (pp. 1–14). New York: Plenum.
Shackley, M.S., (2005), Obsidian: geology and archaeology in the North American Southwest. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
Shackley, M.S., (2008), Archaeological petrology and the archaeometry of lithic materials. Archaeometry, 50, 194–215.
Williams-Thorpe, O., (2008), The application of portable X-ray fluorescence analysis to archaeological lithic provenancing. In Potts, P.J., and West, M. (Eds.), Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: capabilities for in situ analysis, (pp. 174–205). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shackley, M.S. (2011). X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry in Twenty-First Century Archaeology. In: Shackley, M. (eds) X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) in Geoarchaeology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6886-9_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6886-9_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-6885-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-6886-9
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)