Neutron Activation Analysis of Archaeological Materials: An Overview of the Itn Naa Laboratory, Portugal

Dias, María Isabel; Prudêncio, M.I.

doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.2007.00308.x

Cited by 50 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Semi- quantitative age values were estimated by interpolating the total dose rates calculated for the quantitative dating samples. In this study, sampling and analysis for quantitative luminescence dating were undertaken using the methods of Burbidge et al (2014), which are based on a combination of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA, Dias et al, 2013;Dias and Prudêncio, 2007;Gouveia and Prudêncio, 2000;Prudêncio et al, 2006), high resolution gamma spectrometry (HRGS, Trindade et al, 2013), field gamma spectrometry (FGS; Trindade et al, 2014), water absorption and retention under free drainage, and OSL measurements. In the present case FGS was conducted using both Target Nanospec and HPI Rainbow Multi Channel Analysers, each with 2″ × 2″ NaI probes.…”

Section: Luminescence and Dosimetric Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and chronological framework for Iberian variscite mining and consumption at Pico Centeno, Encinasola, Spain

et al. 2016

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AMS radiocarbon and OSL dating, and profiling were used to directly delimit periods of variscite production at Pico Centeno Mine 2. These results were integrated with analysis of other well-dated periods of variscite production to establish an Iberian-wide chronological framework. Variscite production at Pico Centeno Mine 2 began at ~ 5200 BC, coincident with alpine jade production or Casa Montero Iberian flint production. Variscite was only used occasionally, together with other greenstones, during the 5th and 6th millennia BC. During the 4th millennium BC, variscite use began to increase to its apogee in the first half of 3rd millennium BC when it appeared in nearly every Iberian burial site. This increase in variscite production and use coincided with decline in the popularity of alpine jade. By the end of the 3rd millennium BC, new resources began to be valued such as Asian and African Ivory, Baltic and Sicilian amber, and copper-based metal products. The variscite cycle thus started with the decline of jade in the 5th–4th millennium BC, and ended with the appearance of copper, ivory and extra-peninsular amber by the end of the 3rd millennium BC.

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Section: Luminescence and Dosimetric Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and chronological framework for Iberian variscite mining and consumption at Pico Centeno, Encinasola, Spain

et al. 2016

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“…The spectra were stripped to evaluate effective concentrations of K, Th and U in the environments of the samples. Neutron activation analysis was conducted following irradiation in the Portuguese Research Reactor (Dias and Prudêncio 2007).…”

Section: Luminescence and Dosimetric Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dating of Las Mesas Copper Age walled enclosure (La Fuente, Spain)

Odriozola

Burbidge²,

Dias³

et al. 2014

Trab. prehist.

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The site of Las Mesas is located in the west bank of the Guadajira river (La Fuente, Badajoz, Spain). It covers a half hectare and is enclosed by a stone wall. Previous assessments based on site surveys suggested a general chronological span from Late Neolithic period (ca. 3600-2900 BC) through the Copper Age (3 rd millennium BC). Excavations revealed a well-constructed wall with bastions and a domestic space at the centre of the site with three occupational phases. Several functional areas and a votive pit are ascribed to the second phase.A deer antler located in a re-cut ritual pit associated to the second phase was dated by AMS-14 C. Samples from a living floor assigned to the second phase (SU-9/10) and the basement of a kiln associated with the first phase (SU-18) was dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) using the single aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) protocol on 90-160 μm quartz grains. Luminescence profiling analysis of 7 samples taken throughout the archaeological stratigraphy was used to assess variations in luminescence behaviour and relative age through the sequence, using infrared-, optically -and thermallystimulated luminescence (IRSL, OSL, TSL) on poly-mineral and etched samples.Luminescence dating and profiling indicates that the upper archaeological layer (SU-1B) probably dates to the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1000 BC), but that the sediments in the remainder of this section accumulated during the late Neolithic-Copper Age: the site was most probably inhabited between 3300 and 2900 BC. There were gaps in occupation between the Late Neolithic-Cooper Age phases (I & II), and between the Late Neolithic-Cooper Age phases and Late Bronze Age phase (II & III), indicating that the site was abandoned and reoccupied twice. The AMS-14 C date on deer antler of 4254 ± 45 BP (3010-2675 cal BC) is consisten with the OSL results for phase II, indicating that the pit was excavated at the beginning of the second occupational phase.Combined OSL and AMS-14C dating shows that Las Mesas site was first occupied during Late Neolithic farming colonization, abandoned during the Copper Age and occupied again during the Late Bronze Age. The occupational gap recorded during the Copper Age relates to evidence for burning of the site and the partial destruction of the wall, followed by its reconstruction and consolidation. RESUMEN El yacimiento amurallado de media hectárea de LasMesas se ubica en la margen oeste del río Guadiana (La Fuente, Badajoz, España

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“…A amostra e os padrões foram então analisados por espectrometria gama de alta resolução. Detalhes do método encontram-se em Dias e Prudêncio [5]. Este método de análise baseia-se na medição de taxas de contagem de nuclidos radioactivos que são produzidos a partir dos elementos químicos, através de reacções nucleares apropriadas promovidas pelo bombardeamento da amostra com um feixe de neutrões.…”

Section: Objectivosunclassified

Chemical and mineralogical patterns, and luminescence dating of miniature terracotta high-reliefs

Dias¹,

Prudêncio²,

Burbidge³

et al. 2014

Cons. Património

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Polychrome terracotta high-reliefs representing two narrative cycles and belonging to the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Lisbon) were studied. The authorship, historical-artistic context and technological aspects of these artworks are still unknown. Considering the apparent similarity of materials and features of both sets, this research sought to contribute to the establishment of possible relationships between the objects and their workshops in terms of production technology and chronology. The chemical composition of terracotta paste was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The mineralogical composition was acquired by X-ray diffraction. Chronological issues were studied by luminescence. This study enables elucidation of questions related with chronology, provenance and production technology, particularly raw materials and firing temperatures. Compositional results point to the use of distinct raw materials for the cycle of Saint Francis' Life and that of The Passion of Christ, and low firing temperatures. The luminescence results point to a production of the high-reliefs in the second half of the 18th century, in accordance with art-historical studies. ResumoAltos-relevos miniaturais em terracota policromada constituindo dois ciclos narrativos e pertencentes ao Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Lisboa) foram estudados. Pouco se sabe da sua autoria, contexto histórico-artístico e técnicas de produção. Perante a sua aparente semelhança formal e material, esta investigação procurou compreender as relações existentes entre estas obras em termos materiais, de fabrico e datação. A composição química dos corpos cerâmicos foi determinada pela análise por activação neutrónica e a composição mineral por difracção de raios X. Os aspectos cronológicos foram estudados por luminescência. Este estudo permitiu elucidar questões de cronologia, proveniência e de produção tecnológica quanto às matérias-primas e as temperaturas de cozedura usadas. Os resultados composicionais permitiram apontar para o recurso a matérias-primas distintas para os ciclos da Vida de São Francisco e da Paixão de Cristo e temperaturas de cozedura baixas. Os resultados de luminescência apontam para uma produção dos três altosrelevos analisados na segunda metade do século XVIII, em harmonia com os estudos de história de arte.

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Neutron Activation Analysis of Archaeological Materials: An Overview of the Itn Naa Laboratory, Portugal

Cited by 50 publications

References 15 publications

Distribution and chronological framework for Iberian variscite mining and consumption at Pico Centeno, Encinasola, Spain

Distribution and chronological framework for Iberian variscite mining and consumption at Pico Centeno, Encinasola, Spain

Dating of Las Mesas Copper Age walled enclosure (La Fuente, Spain)

Chemical and mineralogical patterns, and luminescence dating of miniature terracotta high-reliefs

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