Artifact Studies
Another important subdiscipline of archaeometry is the study of artifacts. Archaeometrists have used a variety of methods to analyze artifacts, either to determine more about their composition, or to determine their provenance. These techniques include:
- X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
- inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
- neutron activation analysis (NAA)
- scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
- laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
Lead, strontium and oxygen isotope analysis can also test human remains to estimate the diets and even the birthplaces of a study's subjects.
Provenance analysis has the potential to determine the original source of the materials used, for example, to make a particular artifact. This can show how far the artifact has traveled and can indicate the existence of systems of exchange.
Read more about this topic: Archaeological Science
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