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Original Research Article
Handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown
Spectroscopy for Field Archaeology:
Characterization of Roman Wall
Mortars and Etruscan Ceramics
Applied Spectroscopy Practica
2023, Vol. 1(1) 1-9
© The Author(s) 2023
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DOI: 10.1177/27551857231175847
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Mary Kate Donais1, Luke Douglass1, William H. Ramundt2, Claudio Bizzarri3, and
David B. George4
Abstract
Handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied to two studies of archaeological material at excavation sites
in the Orvieto (Umbria), Italy geographic region. The short analysis times and wide range of detectable elements, covering both
metals and nonmetals, achievable via LIBS played a central role in successfully exploring research questions specific to the analyzed
artifacts. For one study, associations among Roman terraced walls at the Coriglia excavation site were established through
comparisons among lime mortar elemental compositions measured in situ. New conclusions regarding construction phases were
achieved, and agreement between handheld LIBS and handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry results was established.
Secondly, Etruscan bucchero pottery was examined to explore relationships among fabric color (gray and black), excavation site
(Cavità 254 and Crocifisso del Tufo), and elemental composition. Differences were found and are discussed as they relate to
ceramic production and object purpose. Principal component analysis was applied for data analysis in both studies.
Keywords
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, principal component analysis, chemometrics, ceramics, mortar, archaeology, handheld
spectroscopy
Date received: 7 March 2023; accepted: 17 April 2023
Introduction
As the availability of miniaturized spectroscopic instrumentation
for applications outside the laboratory continues to
expand,1,2 researchers in the cultural heritage analysis field
are benefiting from the availability of those devices.
Portable and handheld versions of spectrometers once
found only on benchtops, including Raman spectrometers,
Fourier transform infrared spectrometers, and X-ray fluorescence
(XRF) spectrometers, are now essential tools to those
seeking to gain chemical information and/or develop conservation
strategies for precious objects including those found in
museums, at archaeological sites, or at locations of cultural
significance. A number of informative reviews on portable
instrumentation that include applications to cultural heritage
are available.3-7
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is one analytical
technique increasing in use for archaeological and cultural
heritage object analysis.8 XRF spectrometry has
certainly been the more commonplace choice for elemental
analyses of these often-precious samples considering its nondestructive
nature. LIBS has some advantages over XRF spectrometry,
however, including better detection limits for many
of the lighter elements and significantly shorter analysis
times. LIBS could therefore be considered a complement
to XRF spectrometry or, for certain applications, the preferable
choice. For the short campaign times often provided to
cultural heritage researchers, the opportunity to collect
larger data sets is impactful and can lead to higher confidence
in results and the conclusions drawn from those results.
1Department of Chemistry, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH, USA
2Department of Classics, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
3Department of Culture, Parco Archeologico ed Ambientale dell'Orvietano,
Orvieto, Umbria, Italy
4Department of Classics, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH, USA
Corresponding Author:
Mary Kate Donais, Department of Chemistry, Saint Anselm College, 100
Saint Anselm Drive #1704, Manchester, NH 03102-1310, USA.
Email: mdonais@anselm.edu
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