Non-invasive Archaeometrical Study with a Portable Multi-technique X-Ray System

Abstract

A non-invasive archaeometrical study with a portable X-ray system is presented. A setup for XRF-XRD (X-ray fluorescence-X-ray diffraction) based on polychromatic excitation and energy dispersive detection in the reflection mode has been utilized for in situ characterization of artistic and archaeological artifacts. This portable X-ray system allows analysis of chemical elements and chemical crystalline phases and internal structural analysis by radiography. As representative examples is presented: the XRD-XRF identification and characterization of minerals in green stone axes, the provenance XRF study of archaeological ceramics and the possibilities in the radiography examination of paintings.