Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics from the Paranaense Museum Collection by EDXRF Technique

Abstract

The EDXRF technique was used to analyse a selection of archaeological objects from the Paranaense Museum collection (Curitiba, Paraná State, South of Brazil). The samples were measured in situ at the respective museum, using a portable PXRF-LFNA-02 EDXRF system belonging to the Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Physics (LFNA), Department of Physics, Londrina State University, Paraná. A total of 37 objects were measured and analysed, of which 19 were ceramic pieces. The elements Si, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, and Zr were measured. The data analysis provided indications of the key elements of the pigments present in the paint and the slip applied to decorate the ceramic vessels.

Keywords

• pXRF
• ceramics
• archaeology