Neutron Investigations of a Zinc Lamp of Unknown Origin from the Academia Georgica Treiensis Archaeological Collection (Italy)

Abstract

The complementary application of the different non-destructive and non-invasive analytical methods provided relevant new information about the material, manufacture and use of the examined oil lamp. The binocular microscope observation facilitated the reconstruction of the manufacture and the usage of the lamp. The PiXE (proton induced X-ray emission) measurements served the quantitative analysis of major, minor and trace elements supplying data on the near-surface composition. The neutron investigations allowed us to determine the average bulk elemental composition, also providing a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the phase composition and the structural properties of the constituents. The identification of the compositional and technological details clarified the date and origin of the lamp. The metallic zinc raw material and the two-piece mould applied in the casting revealed that the artefact is not an archaeological object from the Imperial Roman Period but a copy from the 19th century, in style and shape reflecting the Roman lamps realised mostly in copper alloy and pottery.