Publication details
An overview of the analytical techniques applied to study the Carpathian obsidians
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Archeometriai Mühely/Archaeometry Workshop |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | http://www.ace.hu/am/ |
| Keywords | obsidian; petrography; NAA/PGAA; XRF; ICP-AES/MS; datování |
| Description | In this paper, we give a brief overview of the analytical techniques applied on Carpathian obsidians, from the mid-sixties until present. Besides modern analytical techniques that are focussed especially on the determination of obsidian artefact provenance, microscopic methods are also applied: investigation in thin section under polarising microscope (flow fabric, inclusions, phenocrysts), characterization of individual microlites and trichites embedded in a glassy groundmass using microprobe, measurement of glass refractive index. Already in 1886, Gyula Szádeczky used the determination of specific gravity on Hungarian obsidians to describe black, translucent, green and red varieties. Magnetic susceptibility was used to distinguish obsidian tools from pieces of artificial glassy slag resembling to artefacts and found during field prospection. The presented methods are discussed according to their physical features, i.e. how the information obtained, elemental-, isotopic- or structural analysis, bulk or surface methods, what elements can be measured, are they sensitive enough for trace element analysis, what are the advantages and limitations. Question of the nondestructivity, as well as economic aspects, i.e. the speed and costs of the analysis are also discussed. Some examples of the provenance research of Carpathian obsidians are shown. |