Analysis of cultural heritage reference materials by portable and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence measuring methods : results reliability assessment
Volume 30 (2023), pp. 6–40
Pub. online: 28 December 2023
Type: Article
Open Access
Open Access
Received
17 September 2023
17 September 2023
Revised
21 October 2023
21 October 2023
Accepted
3 November 2023
3 November 2023
Published
28 December 2023
28 December 2023
Abstract
This article discusses the results of a large-scale analysis of five cultural heritage alloy reference
materials (CHARM) and their shavings using handheld (pXRF) and stationary energy dispersive
(ED-XRF) spectrometers. The primary objective of these studies was to assess the capability of
the pXRF and ED-XRF spectrometers as a non-invasive surface-measuring technique used for
the analysis of the reference materials and the reliability of the data obtained. The second objective
was to evaluate the capability of the pXRF and ED-XRF spectrometers used for the analysis
of shavings of the same five reference materials and to assess the data obtained. These objectives
required finding the best fitting analytical tools for the comparison, and the assessment of the
reliability of the data, and, very importantly, finding reliable models for data analysis and results
validity verification.
Based on the analysis carried out on the cultural heritage alloy reference materials, it can be concluded
that the results of XRF spectrometry obtained from both spectrometers are reliable and
can be compared to each other by making reference to four basic conditions: that the provided
analysis should be based on certified reference materials of known elemental composition; that
analysis be performed according to appropriate measuring methodology (research protocol);
that analysing tools (predictive analytics) be clearly defined; and, finally, that testing be done on
archaeological artefacts. The reliability and inter-correlation of the results obtained were assessed
to determine the possibility of successfully applying XRF spectrometry in the investigation of
archaeological artefacts produced from copper alloys.