Black-to-brown glazed ceramics manufactured during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.) constitute a highly regarded family in Chinese ceramics history, as illustrated for instance by the imperial praise given to several of the productions during the time of their manufacturing [1] and the fact that well preserved bowls are considered national treasure in Japan today [2]. The most famous are the...
Element analysis and content visualization of a 12th century enameled reliquary pendant using Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis and Neutron Tomography (PGAI-NT)
In October 2008, a heavily corroded pendant was found during an excavation campaign in the historic district of Mainz, Germany, in an ancient dump. The reliquary pendant, made of gilded copper, is in the shape of a quatrefoil, also...
The metallurgical investigations of medieval armours are of great interest the history of techniques [1]. Studying the nature and microstructure of the alloys provides crucial insights into the manufacturing processes used by the armourers. Indeed, the nature and heat treatment of the metal play a key role on its mechanical properties, and thus on the effectiveness of an armour. This approach...
Together with the microstructure, polycrystalline materials are characterized by their texture, i.e. the distribution function of the crystallographic orientations of grains in relation to the sample coordinate system. Texture records the thermo-mechanical history of the materials and can be measured using diffraction methods. Quantitative texture analysis of archaeological materials can...
The combined use of different neutron techniques has been employed for the non-destructive compositional investigation of Roman crucible fragments discovered during an excavation in Milan (Italy) conducted by the Soprintendenza Archeologica, Belle Arti e Paesaggio of Milan in 2009.
The excavation unearthed numerous fragments of metals and crucibles related to bronze and brass production,...
