Using pXRF for the Analysis of Ancient Pottery

Über den Titel

The aim of the second workshop on the use of portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) organized by the Cluster of Excellence TOPOI was to exchange experiences and discuss the basic requirements for the use of pXRF as a tool for chemical analysis of archaeological ceramics. During two days, 49 participants from eight European countries discussed nineteen lectures, twelve of which are published here as papers presenting research on ceramics and glass of various periods from Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Rumania, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria and the United Kingdom. The focus was on analysing bulk pottery and on the possibilities of non-destructive determination of chemical composition. The number of chemical elements significant for provenance studies and determinable with sufficient precision and accuracy plays a major role. This was compared with chemical analysis using WDXRF, ICP-MS, NAA. The different examples prove that the chances of positive outcomes depend very much on the individual cases.

ÜberHegewisch, Morten

archaeologist (2003 Dr.phil., FU Berlin) specializing in the Roman Imperial age in
Germanic regions. He worked at various universities and archaeological institutions in Germany including the Cluster of Excellence Topoi, and is now at the Institute for Prehistoric Archaeology FU Berlin, as editor of the Praehistorische Zeitschrift.

---

physical geographer/archaeologist (1993 PhD in Humanities, Warsaw University). Since 1994 she has worked in collaboration with AG Archäometrie FU Berlin. Formerly a part-time employee at Topoi, she is currently an associated member of the Institute for Prehistoric Archaeology FU Berlin and also runs ARCHEA, a laboratory in Warsaw for archaeometric analysis and research.

---

mineralogist/geochemist (1968 Dr.rer.nat., 1979 Habilitation, FU Berlin). Since 1975 he has been involved in chemical and mineralogical analysis of archaeological ceramics. He was an associated member of Topoi. His many research projects encompass Roman and other pottery in Germany, the Mediterranean region and the Near East.