Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T15:24:04.021Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Integrating Non-Destructive Ion Beam Analysis Methods and AMS Radiocarbon Dating for the Study of Ancient Bronze Statues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Gianluca Quarta*
Affiliation:
CEDAD-Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Lucio Calcagnile
Affiliation:
CEDAD-Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Massimo Vidale
Affiliation:
Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padua, Piazza Capitanato 7, 35139 Padova, Italy
*
Corresponding author. Email: Gianluca.quarta@unisalento.it
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Analytical methods based on particle accelerators are widely used in cultural heritage diagnostics and archaeological sciences from the absolute dating of organic materials by means of radiocarbon accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to the analysis of the elemental composition of a wide range of materials (metals, obsidians, pottery) via ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques. At CEDAD (Centre for Dating and Diagnostics), the accelerator facility of the University of Salento, AMS 14C dating and PIXE (particle-induced X-ray emission)-PIGE (particle-induced gamma-ray emission) compositional analysis in external beam mode are combined to study certain archaeological materials. We present a review of the combined application of these analytical methods in the study of casting cores of the Riace bronzes, 2 classical Greek statues of extraordinary importance for the history of art.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE, Reimer, PJ. 2006. Important features of the new radiocarbon calibration curves. Quaternary Science Reviews 25(5–6):408–13.Google Scholar
Boaretto, E. 2009. Dating materials in good archaeological contexts: the next challenge for radiocarbon analysis. Radiocarbon 51(1):275–81.Google Scholar
Brock, F, Higham, T, Bronk Ramsey, C. 2010. Pre-screening techniques for identification of samples suitable for radiocarbon dating of poorly preserved bones. Journal of Archaeological Science 37(4):855–65.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1):337–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butalag, K, Demortier, G, Quarta, G, Muscogiuri, D, Calcagnile, L, Pagliara, C, Maggiulli, G, Mazzotta, C. 2005. Checking the homogeneity of gold artefacts of the final Bronze Age found in Roca Vecchia, Italy by proton induced X-ray emission. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 240(1–2):565–9.Google Scholar
Butalag, K, Calcagnile, L, Quarta, G, Maruccio, L, D'Elia, M. 2008. PIXE analysis of obsidian tools from radiocarbon dated archaeological contexts. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 266(10):2353–7.Google Scholar
Calcagnile, L, Quarta, G, D'Elia, M. 2005. High-resolution accelerator-based mass spectrometry: precision, accuracy and background. Applied Radiation and Isotopes 62(4):623–9.Google Scholar
Calcagnile, L, D'Elia, M, Quarta, G, Vidale, M. 2010. Radiocarbon dating of ancient bronze statues: preliminary results from the Riace statues. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 268(7–8):1030–3.Google Scholar
Campbell, JL, Boyd, NI, Grassi, N, Bonnick, P, Maxwell, JA. 2010. The Guelph PIXE software package IV. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 268(20):3356–63.Google Scholar
Cohen, D, Siegele, R, Orlic, I, Stelcer, E. 2002. Long-term accuracy and precision of PIXE and PIGE measurements for thin and thick sample analyses. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 189(1–4):81–5.Google Scholar
D'Elia, M, Calcagnile, L, Quarta, G, Rizzo, A, Sanapo, C, Laudisa, M, Toma, U, Rizzo, A. 2004. Sample preparation and blank values at the AMS radiocarbon facility of the University of Lecce. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 223–224:278–83.Google Scholar
D'Elia, M, Gianfrate, G, Quarta, G, Giotta, L, Giancane, G, Calcagnile, L. 2007. Evaluation of possible contamination sources in the 14C analysis of bone samples by FTIR spectroscopy. Radiocarbon 49(2):201–10.Google Scholar
Demortier, G. 2004. Proceedings of the “E. Fermi” International School of Physics, Physics Methods in Archaeometry. Amsterdam: IOS Press.Google Scholar
Fedi, ME, Carraresi, L, Grassi, N, Migliori, A, Taccetti, F, Terrasi, F, Mandò, PA. 2010. The Artemidorus papyrus: solving an ancient puzzle with radiocarbon and ion beam analysis measurements. Radiocarbon 52(2):356–63.Google Scholar
Formigli, E. 1984. La tecnica di costruzione delle statue di Riace. In: Borrelli-Pelagatti, V, editor. Due Bronzi da Riace. Rinvenimento, restauro, analisi e ipotesi di interpretazione. Rome: Bolettino d'Arte, Serie Speciale 3. p 107–42.Google Scholar
Gianfrate, G, D'Elia, M, Quarta, G, Giotta, L, Valli, L, Calcagnile, L. 2007. Qualitative application based on IR spectroscopy for bone sample quality control in radiocarbon dating. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 259(1):316–9.Google Scholar
Lombardi, G, Vidale, M. 1998. From the shell to its content: the casting cores of the two bronze statues from Riace (Calabria, Italy). Journal of Archaeological Science 25(11):1055–66.Google Scholar
Lombardi, G, Bianchetti, P, Vidale, M. 2003. Esami relativi alle terre di fusione. In: Melucco Vaccaro, A, De Palma, G, editors. I Bronzi di Riace. Restauro come Conoscenza. Volume 1. Rome: Artemide. p 131–72.Google Scholar
Mandò, PA. 2009. INFN-LABEC—nuclear techniques for cultural heritage and environmental applications. Nuclear Physics News 19(1):512.Google Scholar
Mateus, R, Jesus, AP, Ribeiro, JP. 2004. Quantitative analysis of light elements in thick samples by PIGE. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 219–220:519–23.Google Scholar
Menu, M, Calligaro, T, Salomon, J, Amsel, G, Moulin, J. 1990. The dedicated accelerator-based IBA facility AGLAE at the Louvre. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 45(1–4):610–4.Google Scholar
Micheli, M, Vidale, M. 2003. Scavo dell'interno delle due statue. In: Melucco Vaccaro, A, De Palma, G, editors. I Bronzi di Riace. Restauro come Conoscenza. Volume 2. Rome: Artemide.Google Scholar
Quarta, G, Butalag, K, Calcagnile, L, D'Elia, M. 2007. II nuovo Cimento B. Società Italiana di Fisica 122:773–84.Google Scholar
Quarta, G, Maruccio, L, Calcagnile, L. 2011. Provenance studies of obsidians from Neolithic contexts in Southern Italy by IBA (ion beam analysis) methods. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 269(24):3102–5.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Blackwell, PG, Bronk Ramsey, C, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Edwards, RL, Friedrich, M, Grootes, PM, Guilderson, TP, Hajdas, I, Heaton, TJ, Hogg, AG, Hughen, KA, Kaiser, KF, Kromer, B, McCormac, FG, Manning, SW, Reimer, RW, Richards, DA, Southon, JR, Talamo, S, Turney, CSM, van der Plicht, J, Weyhenmeyer, CE. 2009. IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51(4):1111–50.Google Scholar
Synal, H-A, Wacker, L. 2010. AMS measurement technique after 30 years: possibilities and limitations of low energy systems. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 268(7–8):701–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar