Description
Objectives
Endowing the students with an understanding of analytical techniques in order to determine the raw materials used, themethods of production or decoration, and thus contribute to the provenance study of metallic artefacts (copper alloys andgold alloys) and vitreous (glass, glaze and enamel). Emphasis will be given to the use of nuclear analytical techniques with ion beams as well as to the microstructural characterization for archaeometallurgy studies.The students shall be able to make well founded decisions as to the IBA techniques to apply (or not) viz. a viz. well definedproblems/samples in the scope of cultural heritage
Syllabus
Emphasis will be given to the use of Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) techniques (PIXE, NRA, RBS, AMS) together withmicrostructural characterization techniques:1 – IBA techniques:- Equipments and instrumentation: accelerators (ion beams) and spectrometers (detection chains);- Visits and utilization of the IBA laboratories (Van de Graaff -ion microprobe; tandem-microAMS);- Similarities and differences: the interactions and the encoded information;- Characteristic spectra and data analysis– retrieval of information from spectral data;2 – Microstructural characterization:- Equipment needed for sample preparation and observation;- Evaluation of metallic artefacts production characteristics; microstructure type; size and shape of grains; surfacetreatment, defects, soldering; decoration.3 - Examples (case studies):- Pre- and protohistoric metal materials: (copper alloys and gold alloys, amalgams, welds);- Vitreous and ceramic materials: glass, glazes, enamels.
Cross Competence Component
Although microstructural characterization of metallic artifacts will also be performed, the focus is in providing a broadvision of the IBA techniques, instrumentation and outcomes, namely in relation to its application and adequacy to thecharacterization of materials of relevance to the study and knowledge of the human heritage. Special emphasis is given tothe implications and applications of IBA methods to different types of materials and problems, namely those intrinsic (IBA)nature and those determined by the particular problem/material, leading to adequacy assessment and decision makingconcerning IBA choice and application to objects of cultural heritage. The results obtained should be complemented with additional information/knowledge acquired within other disciplines of this Master such as in Characterizationtechniques, Mineral Microanalysis or Modern restoration theories.
Laboratorial Component
Laboratory practices: choice of typical materials or artifacts for adequate analysis by ion beam techniques and theiranalysis in the laboratory of accelerators complemented or not (using the same or other materials) by analyzes ofmicrostructural characterization. Students will be responsible for the acquisition and data treatment, being assisted orsupervised by the teacher.
Programming And Computing Component
The data acquisition and treatment will include the use of several computer codes for, for example, image processing, spectra deconvolution and quantitative analysis. Handling of spreadsheets, as well as use of basic methods of statistical data treatment, will be explored also including the error analysis and the correct presentation of the quantitative values obtained.
Ethical Principles
All members of a group are responsible for the group's work. In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose and help received and sources used. In any oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.