Micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis of Palaeolithic mammoth ivory: Potential chemical markers of provenance and relative dating

C. Heckel; K. Müller; R. White; H. Floss; N. J. Conard; I. Reiche

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.09.010

Micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis of Palaeolithic mammoth ivory: Potential chemical markers of provenance and relative dating

C. Heckel, K. Müller, R. White, H. Floss, N. J. Conard, I. Reiche

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000. y. BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. This approach evaluated preservation state in terms of mean elemental concentrations (Mg vs. Ca) and a comparative assessment of F-content as an indication of relative burial time. The results also indicate that analysis of trace elements (Sr, Zn, Br) can provide chemical markers of archaeological provenance. The results of this study are compared to data in the existing database established by the same methods of analysis on ivory objects from several different time periods and archaeological sources. The implications of these results for the study of archaeological ivories from Palaeolithic contexts are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	133-141
Number of pages	9
Journal	Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Volume	416
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.09.010
State	Published - Dec 5 2014

Keywords

Diagenesis
Mammoth ivory
Micro-Proton Induced X-ray Emission and Micro-Proton Induced Gamma Ray Emission
Minor and trace element analysis
Upper and Middle Palaeolithic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Earth-Surface Processes
Palaeontology

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10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.09.010

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title = "Micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis of Palaeolithic mammoth ivory: Potential chemical markers of provenance and relative dating",

abstract = "Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpilli{\`e}re I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000. y. BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. This approach evaluated preservation state in terms of mean elemental concentrations (Mg vs. Ca) and a comparative assessment of F-content as an indication of relative burial time. The results also indicate that analysis of trace elements (Sr, Zn, Br) can provide chemical markers of archaeological provenance. The results of this study are compared to data in the existing database established by the same methods of analysis on ivory objects from several different time periods and archaeological sources. The implications of these results for the study of archaeological ivories from Palaeolithic contexts are discussed.",

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author = "C. Heckel and K. M{\"u}ller and R. White and H. Floss and Conard, {N. J.} and I. Reiche",

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T1 - Micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis of Palaeolithic mammoth ivory

T2 - Potential chemical markers of provenance and relative dating

AU - Heckel, C.

AU - Müller, K.

AU - White, R.

AU - Floss, H.

AU - Conard, N. J.

AU - Reiche, I.

PY - 2014/12/5

Y1 - 2014/12/5

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AB - Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000. y. BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. This approach evaluated preservation state in terms of mean elemental concentrations (Mg vs. Ca) and a comparative assessment of F-content as an indication of relative burial time. The results also indicate that analysis of trace elements (Sr, Zn, Br) can provide chemical markers of archaeological provenance. The results of this study are compared to data in the existing database established by the same methods of analysis on ivory objects from several different time periods and archaeological sources. The implications of these results for the study of archaeological ivories from Palaeolithic contexts are discussed.

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KW - Micro-Proton Induced X-ray Emission and Micro-Proton Induced Gamma Ray Emission

KW - Minor and trace element analysis

KW - Upper and Middle Palaeolithic

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Micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis of Palaeolithic mammoth ivory: Potential chemical markers of provenance and relative dating

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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