X-rays for Archaeology

The application of X-rays to objects of archaeology and the attempt to gain insight into both construction and chemical composition in a non-destructive manner date back to the days of the discovery of radiation. Nowadays, X-ray techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence and diffraction are standard tools.

The book contains scientific data, i.e. in situ measurement data taken with portable XRF and XRD, and fine data taken with accelerating ion beams and synchrotron radiations, and with their explanation. Results obtained by traditional scientific methods are also reviewed. The book contains experimental data taken both from monuments in the field and exhibits in museums, i.e. ancient Egyptian wall painting pigments, ancient Egyptian wooden statues, ancient Egyptian mummies, ancient Greek funerary monuments, Cypriot ceramics, Medieval, Lyubliana and Venetian glass, Romanian ceramics, ancient Near East clay, old Japanese porcelain, pre-Hispanic items from ancient America, ancient Chinese underglaze-red, blue and white porcelain, Chinese celadon, Phoenician cosmetics, glazes, ancient gold and silver coins, gold jewelleries, gold alloys, corroded metals, gemstones (ruby, emerald and garnet), painting pigments, pottery, bronze, obsidian, stucco, turquoise, and so on. This discussion between natural scientists and archaeologists predicts the future direction of archaeology.

The application of X-rays to archaeological objects with the goal of gaining insight into both their construction and chemical composition, in a non-destructive manner, dates back to the discovery of radiation. Nowadays, X-ray techniques, such as X-ray fluorescense and diffraction are standard tools. This book offers physicists, art historians, archaeologists, curators, and conservators a detailed overview via contributions written by leading scientists in the field. The book contains scientific data, i.e. in situ measurement data taken with portable XRF and XRD, and fine data taken with accelerating ion beams and synchrotron radiations, together with their explanations. Results obtained by traditional scientific methods are also reviewed. The broad data collection spans experimental data taken both from monuments in the field and exhibits in museums, for example:

ancient Egyptian wall-painting pigments
ancient Egyptian wooden statues and mummies
ancient Greek funerary monuments
Cypriot ceramics
medieval, Lyubliana and Venetian glass
Romanian ceramics
ancient Near-Eastern clay
old Japanese porcelain
pre-Hispanic items from America
ancient Chinese underglaze-red
blue and white porcelain
Chinese celadon
Phoenician cosmetics

Also included are data from glazes, ancient gold and silver coins, gold jewelleries, gold alloys, corroded metals, gemstones (ruby, emerald and garnet), painting pigments, pottery, bronze, obsidian, stucco, turquoise, and so on. The discussion fostered here between natural scientists and archaeologists anticipates the future direction of archaeology.