Radioisotope x-ray fluorescence analysis of ancient pottery from Tel Kouzama site in Damascus, Syria.
The radioisotope X-ray fluorescence method has been utilized in the analysis of thirty nine archaeological pottery fragment samples from Tel Kouzama site, Damascus city, Syria. The samples were irradiated by a 109Cd radioisotope source (-9 10(8) Bq) for 1000 s. 17 chemical elements were determined. These elemental concentrations have been processed using two multivariate statistical methods, cluster and factor analysis in order to determine similarities and correlation between the various samples. Factor analysis confirms that samples were correctly classified by cluster analysis. These two methods suggest that samples can be considered to be manufactured using four different sources of raw material.
Bakraji
Elias Hanna
EH
Atomic Energy Commission, Chemistry Department, Damascus, Syria. ebakraji@aec.org.sy
Romeié
Mouhammad
M
Issa
Haissam
H
D001106:Archaeology; D002106:Cadmium Radioisotopes; D002138:Calibration; D002516:Ceramics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002947:Cities; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005453:Fluorescence; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*; D013593:Syria
D002106:Cadmium Radioisotopes