Spectroscopy and Archaeology: A Look Into the Ancient Past
Spectroscopy magazine is pleased to welcome you to the “Spectroscopy and Archaeology: A Look Into the Ancient Past” landing page, one of two landing pages in our “Spectroscopy and Archaeology” content series!
This landing page houses several articles that focus on the great work of spectroscopists that used spectroscopic techniques to facilitate technological and scientific advancements in archaeological science. Spectroscopic techniques that are focused on in this content series include laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman spectroscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, to name a few.
Click on a story below to begin your journey!
Featured Q & A Interviews
Spectroscopic Techniques Reveal Sophistication in Hunting Tools of Middle Pleistocene Humans
Editor Patrick Lavery of Spectroscopy talked to two co-authors of a study that analyzed information about a 300,000-year-old wooden hunting stick found in modern-day Germany.
Click here to access this Q & A:
https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/spectroscopic-techniques-sophistication-hunting-tools-middle-pleistocene-humans
Using Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (PXRF) to Explore the Origins of the Sarsen Megaliths at Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument that is considered a British cultural icon and one of the most famous landmarks in Europe. The origin of the sarsen megaliths that comprise Stonehenge have interested archaeologists for decades. What can spectroscopic techniques, such as portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (PXRF), reveal about the sarsen megaliths and where they originated? David Nash, a professor of physical geography at the University of Brighton in Brighton, United Kingdom, is exploring this question.
Click here to access this Q & A: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/using-portable-x-ray-fluorescence-spectrometry-pxrf-to-explore-the-origins-of-the-sarsen-megaliths-at-stonehenge
Featured Articles
An Archaeometric Investigation Into the Former Cataract House Hotel via Elemental Analysis
Although much is known about the overall design of the Cataract House Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York, a clearer understanding of its construction phases, as well as its role in the Underground Railroad, could be determined from spectroscopic analysis in tandem with ongoing archaeological investigations.
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Using pXRF Analysis and Automated SEM-EDS To Study Stonehenge's Altar Stone
A recent study used portable X-ray fluorescence analysis (pXRF) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to uncover new insights into Stonehenge’s Altar Stone.
Click here to read about this study:
https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/using-pxrf-analysis-and-automated-sem-eds-to-study-stonehenge-s-altar-stone
Recent Spectroscopic Studies in Archaeology
FT-IR as a Determinant of Age and Origin Location of Baltic Amber Beads in Aššur, Iraq
Fragments of amber beads examined in 2019 showed a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum consistent with Baltic amber, or succinite, suggesting the artifacts came from the Baltic or North Sea regions.
Click here to read about this study:
Scientists use FT-IR, XRD, and GC to Analyze Pewsey Hoard Vessels
A team of scientists recently analyzed a collection of late Roman vessels discovered in the United Kingdom.
Click here to read about this study:
Using Raman to Analyze Ancient Murals in Pompeii
Scientists used spectroscopic techniques to learn more about paintings in the blue room of Ariadne’s house.
Click here to read about this study:
https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/using-raman-to-analyze-ancient-murals-in-pompeii
Using ICP-MS to Study Mineral Composition in Ancient Copper Mines
A recent study used inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to study the copper isotopic composition of ores of specimens excavated at three Copper and Early Bronze Age mining centers.
Click here to read about this study:
Getting accurate IR spectra on monolayer of molecules
April 18th 2024Creating uniform and repeatable monolayers is incredibly important for both scientific pursuits as well as the manufacturing of products in semiconductor, biotechnology, and. other industries. However, measuring monolayers and functionalized surfaces directly is. difficult, and many rely on a variety of characterization techniques that when used together can provide some degree of confidence. By combining non-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) and IR spectroscopy, IR PiFM provides sensitive and accurate analysis of sub-monolayer of molecules without the concern of tip-sample cross contamination. Dr. Sung Park, Molecular Vista, joined Spectroscopy to provide insights on how IR PiFM can acquire IR signature of monolayer films due to its unique implementation.
New Probes for NIR Monitoring of Polymer Injection Molding Composition in Real-Time
May 2nd 2024Researchers from Kyoto University and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have developed innovative probes to monitor the chemical composition of biodegradable polymer blends during injection molding. This breakthrough could lead to improved production efficiency and reduced waste in the polymer industry.
