The study of bronze statuettes with the help of neutron-imaging techniques

Langh, Robert van; Lehmann, Eberhard; Hartmann, Stefan; Kaestner, Anders; Scholten, Frits

doi:10.1007/s00216-009-3058-4

Cited by 27 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…If eventually are visible any kind of crack(s) on obtained X-ray film, as here, the registered indications may however serve for further engineering analyze of a production method and kind(s) of faults through the entire body, even when the artistic part is an object of observation or investigation [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. But, irregularities visible from Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have indicated that, when is used X-ray diagnostic methods in conjunction with art, historical and technical knowledge of artistic works than will impact on change the understanding of art objects given by curators based on stylistic features [1][2][3]. Although a few museums have been examined their sculptures, in more or less systematic way, still exists the relatively small number of results of X-ray diagnostic methods of sculpture collections.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

X-ray transparent testing of leaves from an artistic desk lamp

Karastojković¹,

Polić²,

Srećković³

et al. 2017

Zas Mat

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

X-ray transparent testing of leaves from an artistic desk lamp

Karastojković¹,

Polić²,

Srećković³

et al. 2017

Zas Mat

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“…As a result, attenuation of X-rays rises with increasing atomic number and density while with neutrons there is no direct relationship between atomic weight and transmission [14]. Regarding metals of ancient interest, the attenuation of neutrons in different elements follows the order Au N Ag N Fe N Cu N Pb N Sn (with neutrons being more attenuated in Au than Sn) while for X-rays is Pb N Au N Sn N Ag N Cu N Fe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Although copper and tin have relatively short half-lives (12.7 h and 27 h respectively), other elements that can be present in small concentrations in copper or bronze can stay activated for many days (e.g. Zn 244 days, Co 5.2 years, Ag 250 days) [14], preventing the artifacts to be handled shortly after the neutron analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Early/Middle Bronze Age copper and bronze axes by micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and neutron imaging techniques

Figueiredo

Pereira

Lopes

et al. 2016

Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy

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Micro X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) analysis and neutron imaging techniques, namely 2D radiography and 3D tomography, have been applied for the study of four metal axes from the Early/Middle Bronze Age in Western Iberia, a period characterized by a metallurgical change in the use of copper to bronze. Micro-XRF analysis has shown that one of the axes was produced in copper with some arsenic while the other three were produced in a copper-tin alloy (bronze) with variable tin contents and some arsenic and lead. Neutron radiography and tomography were applied to study internal heterogeneities of the axes in a non-invasive way since the specificities of neutron interaction with matter allow a suitable penetration of these relatively thick copper-based objects when compared to the use of a conventional X-ray radiography. Neutron imaging allowed the visualization of internal fissures and pores and the evaluation of their distribution, size and shape. Relevant information for the reconstruction of ancient manufacturing techniques was gathered, revealing that one ax was produced with the mold in an angle of ≈25°, probably to facilitate gas escape during metal pouring. Also, information regarding physical weaknesses of the axes was collected, providing relevant data for their conservation. Novelty statement: The present paper combines the use of micro-XRF and neutron imaging techniques, namely (2D) radiography and (3D) tomography for the study of prehistoric metal axes. The XRF spectra allowed identifying major and minor elements present in the alloys, inferring on the absence of elements that could become radioactive for a long period of time after irradiation with neutrons. The specificities of neutron interaction with matter allowed a suitable penetration of these relatively thick copper-based objects when compared to the use of a conventional X-ray radiography. The combination of these non-destructive techniques allowed the evaluation of the metal composition and the internal structure of the axes. Micro-XRF allowed the distinction among copper and bronze axes, and provided data about the composition of early bronzes for which data is scarce. The neutron imaging study allowed for the first time the visualization of internal heterogeneities in early bronze axes, namely pores and large voids, providing relevant information for the reconstruction of ancient manufacturing techniques and raising pertinent information regarding physical weaknesses of these types of objects.

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“…Neutron imaging [1][2][3][4] and neutron diffraction [5][6][7] have been demonstrated to be important tools in the study of archaeological artefacts because they allow morphological and compositional analysis of the objects in a completely nondestructive way. The combination of imaging and compositional analyses using neutrons, as well as complementary techniques, have been exploited in a few studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined neutron and laser techniques for technological and compositional investigations of hollow bronze figurines

Agresti

Osticioli

Guidotti³

et al. 2015

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

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Here, an innovative non-invasive multi-analytical approach for the archaeometallurgical characterisation of ancient bronze artefacts using high resolution neutron tomography, time of flight neutron diffraction, and laser induced plasma spectroscopy has been investigated. We show its effectiveness through an example application aimed at describing the crafting processes, characterising the alloy compositions and deterioration phenomenologies of three small bronze figurines from the antiquarian collection of the Egyptian Museum of Florence. The present methodology has allowed unprecedented overall archaeometallurgical descriptions of these artefacts based on the detection of fine morphological details, degree of mineralisation, elemental and phase composition of the metal walls, and mineral contents of the core materials. Such an approach can be extended to other hollow copper alloy artefacts in order to identify their raw materials and interpret their technological processes.

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The study of bronze statuettes with the help of neutron-imaging techniques

Cited by 27 publications

References 4 publications

X-ray transparent testing of leaves from an artistic desk lamp

X-ray transparent testing of leaves from an artistic desk lamp

Investigating Early/Middle Bronze Age copper and bronze axes by micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and neutron imaging techniques

Combined neutron and laser techniques for technological and compositional investigations of hollow bronze figurines

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