Archaeometry at the University of Missouri Research Reactor and the Provenance of Obsidian Artefacts in North America

Abstract

Descriptions of the history of the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of MissouriResearch Reactor and the procedures used for instrumental neutron activation analysis of archaeological materials are presented. The laboratory was established in 1988 to support students and faculty from the University of Missouri and other universities who were interested in archaeological research involving compositional analysis. The results obtained from the analysis of obsidian sources and artefacts from locations in the continental USA are presented for illustration.The proposal to build a research reactor on the University of Missouri (MU) campus was conceived in the late 1950s. The primary objectives were to stimulate scientific research and educational opportunities for MU faculty and students. Funds to build the reactor were appropriated by the Missouri State Legislature and approved by the Governor in 1959. Construction of the MU-Research Reactor (MURR) was completed and the reactor was in operation by the autumn of 1966. The choice of a flexible reactor design facilitated several expansions and upgrades over the years, to accommodate changing research needs and technological advances. Today, the MURR operates on a 150-hour per week schedule at a power of 10 MW and employs more than 140 full-time staff. The MURR supports research, education and service in a variety of disciplines, including (but not limited to) agriculture, engineering, medicine, epidemiology, chemistry, physics and archaeology.

Deconstructing a complex obsidian “source‐scape”: A geoarchaeological and geochemical approach in northwestern Patagonia

“…Normalization of the Compton scattering peak was used to account for differences in sample size and thickness. The XRF instrument was calibrated for analysis of obsidian by measuring a set of 40 well‐characterized obsidian source samples previously analyzed by NAA, inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), and XRF (see details in Glascock & Ferguson, ).…”

“…We strategically combine geochemical characterization by means of X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and neutron activation analysis (NAA), considering their respective abilities to discriminate between sources and evaluate intrasource variability (Glascock & Ferguson, ; Millhauser, Rodríguez‐Alegría, & Glascock, ; Shackley et al, ). By generating the necessary geoarchaeological foundation (Glascock, ; Glascock, Braswell, & Cobean, ; Shackley, ), the ultimate goal of this study lies in reconstructing patterns of technological organization, human mobility, and social interaction in a highly heterogeneous Andean landscape, which includes yearlong potential for lowland habitation and limited seasonal availability of highlands and associated resources.…”

Possible obsidian sources for artifacts from Timor: narrowing the options using chemical data

“…INAA has been complimented in a systematic way by the introduction of laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (Glascock et al, 2007). Obsidian has an advantage in using LA-ICPMS compared with the analytical and calibration difficulties encountered in its use for bulk analysis of composite materials such as ceramics.…”

Geochemical characterization of ochre from central coastal British Columbia, Canada

“…For every 10e12 unknown samples analyzed, two of each SRM 1632b, SRM 1633b, and one of each SRM 278, SEM 688 and Ohio Red Clay were also tested. Non-certified elemental concentrations from the Ohio Red Clay were taken from Glascock et al (2007). The samples were run through a pneumatic tube system and subjected to a 10-s thermal irradiation at a neutron flux of 5 Â 10 13 n cm À2 s À1 .…”