NCPTT staff recently presented the results of initial research on the applicability of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) to copper artifact elemental composition studies at the 56th annual Southeastern Archaeological Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The research shows that pXRF has promise for those interested in understanding what major, minor, and trace elements are present in copper artifacts. Work is underway to compare pXRF results systematically against neutron activation analyses data gathered by other researchers.
For more information, contact David Morgan.