The Use of Non-Destructive Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Analysis for Sourcing Flint in Northern Europe: Progress to Date and Prospects for the Future: Progress to Date and Prospects for the Future

Deborah Olausson, Anders Högberg, Richard Hughes

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Abstract

The article summarizes the results of work since 2010 to develop non- destructive energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) as a non-destructive method for determining the provenience of flint in northern Europe. Some 40 localities from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine have been sampled and analyzed. Trace elements have not proven particularly effective in drawing distinctions between and among flint and chert because they often occur below, or near, detection limits. However CaO and Fe compositions usually generated the highest count rates and total counts using EDXRF and their concentrations allowed satisfactory partitioning of some of the flints we analyzed. EDXRF can help us to discriminate among various outcrops of flint used for tool production during prehistory. Future work involves investigating correlations between flint chemistry and visual appearance, as well as investigating source-critical aspects of post-depositional effects on tool surfaces.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Exploitation of Raw Materials in Prehistory
Subtitle of host publicationSourcing, Processing and Distribution
EditorsTelmo Pereira, Xavier Terradas, Nuno Ferreira Bicho
Place of PublicationCambridge
PublisherCambridge Scholars Publishing
Chapter8
Pages98-112
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)978-1-4438-9597-2
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Sept 1
EventRaw Materials Exploitation in Prehistory: Sourcing, Processing and Distribution - University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
Duration: 2016 Mar 102016 Mar 12
http://www.rawmaterials2016.com/

Conference

ConferenceRaw Materials Exploitation in Prehistory
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityFaro
Period2016/03/102016/03/12
Internet address

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Archaeology

Free keywords

  • Non-destructive energy dispersive X-ray analysis
  • flint
  • provenience analysis
  • geochemistry

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