Materials Research on Archaeological Objects Using PIXE and Other Non-Invasive Techniques

An interdisciplinary study of metallic objects from selected archaeological sites in Poland was performed. The aim of the project was to obtain information about the chemical composition and structural changes of the objects. Furthermore, the research results provided information about the technological process which was used to manufacture the artifacts. The materials research had a non- and micro-invasive character which is very important in this type of investigation. The main experimental tools were particle-induced X-ray emission supplemented with nuclear reaction thermal neutron (white beam) radiography, scanning electron microscopy with X-ray energy dispersive analysis, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry techniques. The results show that the artifacts were made by a secondary smelting process used in local metallurgy manufactures.