Speaker
Dr
Zoltán Kis
(Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
Description
Non-destructive analysis has become more and more important for archaeology, especially in the case of ELD (extra-long distance) trade items in prehistory. One of the potential highlights for such objects is high pressure metamorphites („jadeites”) and related rocks playing a crucial part in European prehistoric long distance trade networks. The extremely rare, attractive and prestigious objects were spread all over the western half of Europe (D’Amico et al. 2003) and recently the eastern borderline is seemingly shifted essentially (Szakmány et al. 2013, Petrequin et al. 2011). These rocks can be optimally studied in petrographic thin section, but as they are invaluable proofs of prehistoric communication networks and trade, any invasive analytical treatment for their studies is beyond question.
A combination of non-destructive techniques might be useful in this case. Non-destructive SEM-EDS of high-polished surfaces can be a good choice (Bendő et al. 2012, 2013). In this paper we use geochemical fingerprinting by PGAA (Szakmány et al 2011) coupled with density measurements derived from 3D scanning models. Density is a characteristic feature of the HP/HT rocks being very high (3300-3500 kg/m3). It has been used for characterisation of jade axes already using traditional laboratory techniques. 3D scanning and calculation of volume on the basis of geometrical shape might extent the applicability of this non-destructive and highly informative technique to very small objects where traditional laboratory techniques are hard to control.
References
Bendő et al. 2012, Case Studies on a Non-Destructive SEM-EDX Analytical Method for Polished Stone Tools and Gems, poster presented on 39th ISA Leuven.
Bendő et al. in press for AM 2013/1 Bendő Zsolt, Oláh István, Péterdi Bálint, Szakmány György, Horváth Eszter, Csiszolt kőeszközök és ékkövek roncsolásmentes SEM‐EDX vizsgálata: lehetőségek és korlátok
D’Amico, C., Starnini, E., Gasparotto, G., Ghedini, M. (2003): Eclogites, jades and the HP-metaophiolites employed for prehistoric polished stone implements in Italy and Europe. Periodico di Mineralogia, 73, 17-42.
Pétrequin, P., Errera, M., Cassen, S., Gauthier, E., Hovorka, D., Klassen, L., Sheridan, A. (2011): From Mont Viso to Slovakia: the two axeheads of Alpine Jade from Golianovo. Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientarium Hungaricae 62: 243-268
Szakmány et al. in press for AM 2013/1: Szakmány György, T. Biró Katalin, Kristály Ferenc, Bendő Zsolt, Kasztovszky Zsolt, Zajzon Norbert: Távolsági import csiszolt kőeszközök nagynyomású metamorfitokból Magyarországon / Long distance import of polished stone artefacts: HP metamorphites in Hungary
Szakmány, Gy., Kasztovszky, Zs., Szilágyi, V., Starnini, E., Friedel, O., Biró, K. T. (2011): Discrimination of prehistoric polished stone tools from Hungary with non-destructive chemical Prompt Gamma Activation Analyses (PGAA). – European Journal of Mineralogy 23: 883-893.
Summary
Non-destructive PGAA and SEM-EDS measurements coupled with density measurements derived from 3D scanning have been used to characterise high pressure metamorphic rocks, often called ‘jadeites’. The aim was to study their role in European prehistoric long distance trade networks.
Primary author
Dr
László Szentmiklósi
(Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
Co-authors
Dr
György Szakmány
(Roland Eötvös University, Dept. of Petrology and Geochemistry)
Dr
Katalin T. Biró
(Hungarian National Museum)
Dr
Lőrinc Szabó
(Semmelweis University)
Dr
Zoltán Kis
(Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
Dr
Zsolt Bendő
(Roland Eötvös University, Dept. of Petrology and Geochemistry)
Dr
Zsolt Kasztovszky
(Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
