NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry and Cultural ... · This time three new graves were excavated and the skeletal remains were examined. As before, all were determined to

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NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry

and Cultural Heritage

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NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry and Cultural Heritage

- Visual Inspection

- Penetrant Testing

- Magnetic Testing

- Radiography – film & digital

- Ultrasonic Testing – conventional & PA

- Eddy Current Testing

- Infrared Thermography

- XRF & XRD – X-ray Fluorescence & Difraction

- 3D Laser Scanning

- Microscopy

- Visual Inspection

- Penetrant Testing

- Magnetic Testing

- Radiography – film & digital

- Ultrasonic Testing – conventional & PA

- Eddy Current Testing

- Infrared Thermography

- XRF & XRD – X-ray Fluorescence & Difraction

- 3D Laser Scanning

- Microscopy



X-ray Fluorescence for Composition Analysis

Determination of atomic composition

of materials by X-ray Fluorescence:

Accurate

Fast

Easy

Non-destructive

Portable

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X-ray Fluorescence for Composition Analysis

Archaeometallurgy is concerned with the analysis of metallic objects of cultural

value. Investigations are on pieces as small as jewelry or as large as seagoing

vessels, such as the H.L. Hunley - the first attack submarine ever constructed.

XRF Analysis for Authentication and Conservation: Paintings and Art Objects

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XRF Applications for Archaeometry

The application of physics and chemistry to investigate

archaeological and historical objects benefits tremendously

from handheld XRF.

Most governments will not allow investigators to remove

materials from their original setting; and, sometimes their

removal or even disturbance can destroy the value of the

object.

In-situ, non-destructive handheld XRF analysis provides

valuable information for the assessment of a site - where to

dig next, the relationships among loci, the homogeneity of

materials, the authenticity of a cave or fresco painting and

more.

Combining GPS with handheld XRF in the field for instant

metal mapping takes archaeological field research to an

entirely new level.

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Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage objects pose

challenges on many fronts.

Whether the need is to identify the authenticity of an object or

to determine the correct restoration materials, handheld XRF is

an ideal tool to aid the analyst without damaging the object.

Handheld XRF is used to help reproduce glaze colors on

historical buildings with modern non-toxic material. It is used to

help identify and restore inks on ancient manuscripts.

Handheld XRF is also used to identify and/or repair alloys of

jewelry, swords, sculpture, and even historical submarines. It

is also used to identify arsenic or lead residue left by older,

toxic preservatives on historical objects typically of natural

material origin, such as feathers or skins.

Many museums and cultural heritage institutes use handheld

XRF on a regular basis.

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XRF Applications for Cultural Heritage



Grave digging elicits numerous connotations,

usually horror film in nature.

But, forensic anthropologists actually study graves

and their inhabitants to learn the origin of those

buried, how they perished, and sometimes if the

bodies were moved.

Additionally, handheld XRF is utilized by forensic

odontologists to assist in victim identification by

analyzing dental restorative resin materials.

Acting like a fingerprint, even if the body has been

burned, this method has helped to identify victims

of extreme incineration cases.

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XRF Applications for Forensic Anthropology



The graves were part of a section of the cemetery of Camp Jefferson

Davis, a military internment camp and hospital utilized after the

Mexican American War in 1848.

According to historical records, some of those stationed at the

installation were awaiting deployment to the newly established border

with Mexico whereas others were injured soldiers that were unable to

return home.

The existence of the cemetery was first brought to public attention in

1979 when local fishermen reported seeing human remains in two

coffins eroding out on the beach.

Local archaeologists found two graves; the bodies were exhumed,

and the skeletons analyzed. These two individuals were eventually re-

interred in 1989 with full military honors at the Biloxi National

Cemetery.

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Portable XRF to Study Human Skeletal Remains

Identification of a Bullet Fragment in a Mexican War (1846-1848) Soldier



In spring of 2008 a report of bones by a fisherman once again brought archaeologists to the site.

This time three new graves were excavated and the skeletal remains were examined.

As before, all were determined to be adult males between 20 and 30 years of age, but during analysis a

small anomaly on the right clavicle of one individual was observed.

An x-ray of the clavicle was taken, and showed the presence of a highly dense material. It of course gave

no information about the chemical composition of the material, and thus, while being provocative, the

analysis proved ultimately inclusive.

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The XRF DELTA was then utilized and displayed remarkably

high Pb levels (74643 ± 1511ppm) and moderate levels of Sn

(4446 ± 119 ppm).

A second area on the shaft was tested and displayed very low

levels of Pb in comparison (98 ± 7 ppm) with practically no

traces of Sn (<LOD ± 98 ppm).

The high ratio of Pb to Sn in the anomaly, however, is more

consistent to what one would find in a bullet, thus supporting

that the mystery metal was most likely a fragment from a

gunshot.

Despite the fact that these men were soldiers, a great many of

them died not from wounds but from dysentery, disease, and

dehydration - none of which tend to manifest on the skeleton.

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Portable XRF Analysis for Field Archaeology – Etruscan site / Orvieto

Handheld XRF is a valuable tool for many samples of

archaeological importance - metallic artifacts like coins and

fibula; construction materials such as tiles, mortars and

cements, decorative pigments used on pottery and fresco.

The quick analysis times of this non-destructive, portable

instrument make it ideal for archaeology.

The number of samples that must be removed for later

analysis at a laboratory is minimized because many more

analyses can be done in situ.

A handheld XRF has been used for two seasons at an

archaeological site near Orvieto, Italy.

The site begins in the 8th century BCE as an Etruscan

settlement and, with no interruptions, ends with a Late

Antique phase.

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Handheld XRF for Shipwrecks

Dr. Raymond Hayes, Underwater Archaeologist,

made a major discovery in his investigation of

shipwrecks using a quick, non-destructive method to

analyze them - Handheld XRF.

Dr. Hayes analyzes wooden shipbuilding materials

including oakum, Irish felt, pine tar, caulking cotton,

copper sheathing, treenails, and metal fasteners. He

studies raw lumber, ship timbers, and various wood

treatments for comparative baseline data.

Shipwrecks he's studied include the Gunboat

Philadelphia, Boca Chica Channel Wreck, USS

Scorpion, Cleopatra's Barge or Pride of Hawaii,

Charles W Morgan, Indiana, USS Tulip, USS

Housatonic, CSS Neuse and the CSS Alabama.

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Cape Cod's Oldest Shipwreck, The Sparrow-Hawk has been also studied by Dr. Hayes.

The Sparrow-Hawk ran aground near Plymouth in 1626 carrying English settlers headed for

Jamestown, Virginia. It was discovered after a storm in 1863 and exhibited at Boston Common in 1865.

The Olympus DELTA XRF analyzer indicated that the wood absorbed elements from materials it came

in contact with over the years. Iron (Fe) could be from original posts and fasteners. Chlorine (Cl) is

likely from the salt of the ocean. Elements such as sulfur (S) and calcium (Ca) may be remnants from

sea life attached to the wood over time. Silicon (Si) could simply be from sand.

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Schematic of Shipwreck Data Points Soil Foot and Board of Balance Measuring Tape Guided Analysis




It is unlikely that any metal from the Sparrow-Hawk would have survived over time simply from scavenging.

However, the metal post found in the stern and the metal fasteners found where the rudder attached did

have different compositions.

The post may have been inserted in the 1860's when it was brought from Cape Cod to be exhibited on

Boston Common. The fasteners may have been attached around 1890 when it was transported back to

Plymouth.

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Stern Post DELTA Camera Shot of Fastener Test Fasteners Near Rudder Attachment



The Liberty Bell – 1751 Philadelphia USA

The Liberty Bell is over 200 years old, and is

one of the USA's most treasured symbols of

liberty

Cracking on its test ring in 1752

Remelted and recast 3 times only to have a

poor tone

The Liberty Bell rang out from the tower of

Independence Hall on July 8, 1776,

summoning citizens to hear the first public

reading of the Declaration of Independence

Before 1846, the Bell developed a crack

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Radiography performed in 1975 by

KODAK

In 2001, a man suddenly began to attack

the Liberty Bell with a hammer

Boeing was asked to help with the repair

because of their expertise in metal

structures and nondestructive evaluation

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Boeing NDT specialists performed a series of

nondestructive tests to evaluate the possible

damage to the Bell and also to document the overall

structural status of the Bell. These tests included:

Radiographs of the bell were taken that were

compared to radiographs taken more than 25

years ago.

Fluorescent penetrant inspection was

performed on a small area of the bell to check for

possible cracks from the attack. (See picture)

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Ultrasonic inspection was performed to attempt

to locate any internal flaws within the Bell.

An eddy current inspection was conducted to

map the surface cracks on the bell. The data

obtained from this inspection was used as a

baseline to compare and crack propagation that

may occur in the future.

Eddy current methods were used to measure

the electrical conductivity of the Bell's bronze

casing at a various points to evaluate its

uniformity. In the picture below, the white dots on

the Bell indicate spots where conductivity

measurements were taken.

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Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic

The statue of Saint Wenceslas in Prague, Czech Republic depicts

Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia during 921 … 935.

The bronze equestrian statue of St Wenceslas at the Wenceslas

Square is one of the most famous sculptures in Prague made by

Josef Václav Myslbek.

The monument was created in 1887 -1924, the bronze equestrian

statue of St Wenceslas is 5.5 m high, the height with the pike is 7.2 m

and the weight is 5.5 t.

The statue is hollow, assembled out of casts based on a plaster

model.

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Olympus has been asked to perform a

Videoendoscope inspection of the

internal structure.

Inspection has been performed during

in August 2004.

The IPLEX SA has been used.

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IPLEX SA has been used during 2004 inspection.

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Olympus has been asked again to

perform a Videoendoscope inspection

of the internal structure.

Inspection has been performed during

September 2017.

The new IPLEX NX has been used.

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Internal corrosion and integrity of bolt joints have been investigated.

Local repairs has been performed in order to stop corrosion.

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Endless Column – Constantin Brancusi / 1938 / Tg.Jiu Romania

The Endless Column symbolizes the concept of infinity and the

infinite sacrifice of the Romanian soldiers.

It is considered by Sydnei Geist the top point of the modern art.

The Endless Column stacks 17 rhomboidal modules, with a half-

unit at the top.

The incomplete top unit is thought to be the element that

expresses the concept of the infinite.

Completed on 27 October 1938.

All 17 rhomboidal modules accumulate a total height of 29.3 m.

It suffered from tilting, cracking, metal corrosion and an unstable

foundation.

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Ultrasonic testing for the welds

and structure

Videoendoscopy inspection for

internal corrosion assessment

There is a central carbon steel

pole to sustain the entire

structure

Replacement of the central

pole with stainless steel one

was not necessary as only

about 2% corrosion has been

detected

Penetrant testing for surface

cracks

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Several repairing methods has

been tried

Internal structure looks still

strong

Main problems were related to

the external surface condition

and colour

The monument is still under

investigation and assessment



CONCLUSIONS

NDT technologies become decisive for cultural heritage objects assessment

NDT becomes a standard approach for many applications

NDT is the tool for finding methods for preserving & restoring of historical objects

Several historical treasures has been damage due to wrong method of preserving

Some governments decide that NDT is mandatory for valuable historical objects

There are new developments of NDT methods designed especially for such applications

The role of NDT specialists on such applications is become essential

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NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry and Cultural ... · This time three new graves were excavated and the skeletal remains were examined. As before, all were determined to