NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry and Cultural ... · This time three new graves were...
Transcript of NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry and Cultural ... · This time three new graves were...
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NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry
and Cultural Heritage
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NonDestructive Technologies for Archaeometry and Cultural Heritage
- Visual Inspection
- Penetrant Testing
- Magnetic Testing
- Radiography – film & digital
- Ultrasonic Testing – conventional & PA
- Eddy Current Testing
- Infrared Thermography
- XRF & XRD – X-ray Fluorescence & Difraction
- 3D Laser Scanning
- Microscopy
- Visual Inspection
- Penetrant Testing
- Magnetic Testing
- Radiography – film & digital
- Ultrasonic Testing – conventional & PA
- Eddy Current Testing
- Infrared Thermography
- XRF & XRD – X-ray Fluorescence & Difraction
- 3D Laser Scanning
- Microscopy
X-ray Fluorescence for Composition Analysis
Determination of atomic composition
of materials by X-ray Fluorescence:
Accurate
Fast
Easy
Non-destructive
Portable
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X-ray Fluorescence for Composition Analysis
Archaeometallurgy is concerned with the analysis of metallic objects of cultural
value. Investigations are on pieces as small as jewelry or as large as seagoing
vessels, such as the H.L. Hunley - the first attack submarine ever constructed.
XRF Analysis for Authentication and Conservation: Paintings and Art Objects
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XRF Applications for Archaeometry
The application of physics and chemistry to investigate
archaeological and historical objects benefits tremendously
from handheld XRF.
Most governments will not allow investigators to remove
materials from their original setting; and, sometimes their
removal or even disturbance can destroy the value of the
object.
In-situ, non-destructive handheld XRF analysis provides
valuable information for the assessment of a site - where to
dig next, the relationships among loci, the homogeneity of
materials, the authenticity of a cave or fresco painting and
more.
Combining GPS with handheld XRF in the field for instant
metal mapping takes archaeological field research to an
entirely new level.
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Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage objects pose
challenges on many fronts.
Whether the need is to identify the authenticity of an object or
to determine the correct restoration materials, handheld XRF is
an ideal tool to aid the analyst without damaging the object.
Handheld XRF is used to help reproduce glaze colors on
historical buildings with modern non-toxic material. It is used to
help identify and restore inks on ancient manuscripts.
Handheld XRF is also used to identify and/or repair alloys of
jewelry, swords, sculpture, and even historical submarines. It
is also used to identify arsenic or lead residue left by older,
toxic preservatives on historical objects typically of natural
material origin, such as feathers or skins.
Many museums and cultural heritage institutes use handheld
XRF on a regular basis.
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XRF Applications for Cultural Heritage
Grave digging elicits numerous connotations,
usually horror film in nature.
But, forensic anthropologists actually study graves
and their inhabitants to learn the origin of those
buried, how they perished, and sometimes if the
bodies were moved.
Additionally, handheld XRF is utilized by forensic
odontologists to assist in victim identification by
analyzing dental restorative resin materials.
Acting like a fingerprint, even if the body has been
burned, this method has helped to identify victims
of extreme incineration cases.
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XRF Applications for Forensic Anthropology
The graves were part of a section of the cemetery of Camp Jefferson
Davis, a military internment camp and hospital utilized after the
Mexican American War in 1848.
According to historical records, some of those stationed at the
installation were awaiting deployment to the newly established border
with Mexico whereas others were injured soldiers that were unable to
return home.
The existence of the cemetery was first brought to public attention in
1979 when local fishermen reported seeing human remains in two
coffins eroding out on the beach.
Local archaeologists found two graves; the bodies were exhumed,
and the skeletons analyzed. These two individuals were eventually re-
interred in 1989 with full military honors at the Biloxi National
Cemetery.
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Portable XRF to Study Human Skeletal Remains
Identification of a Bullet Fragment in a Mexican War (1846-1848) Soldier
In spring of 2008 a report of bones by a fisherman once again brought archaeologists to the site.
This time three new graves were excavated and the skeletal remains were examined.
As before, all were determined to be adult males between 20 and 30 years of age, but during analysis a
small anomaly on the right clavicle of one individual was observed.
An x-ray of the clavicle was taken, and showed the presence of a highly dense material. It of course gave
no information about the chemical composition of the material, and thus, while being provocative, the
analysis proved ultimately inclusive.
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Portable XRF to Study Human Skeletal Remains
Identification of a Bullet Fragment in a Mexican War (1846-1848) Soldier
The XRF DELTA was then utilized and displayed remarkably
high Pb levels (74643 ± 1511ppm) and moderate levels of Sn
(4446 ± 119 ppm).
A second area on the shaft was tested and displayed very low
levels of Pb in comparison (98 ± 7 ppm) with practically no
traces of Sn (<LOD ± 98 ppm).
The high ratio of Pb to Sn in the anomaly, however, is more
consistent to what one would find in a bullet, thus supporting
that the mystery metal was most likely a fragment from a
gunshot.
Despite the fact that these men were soldiers, a great many of
them died not from wounds but from dysentery, disease, and
dehydration - none of which tend to manifest on the skeleton.
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Portable XRF to Study Human Skeletal Remains
Identification of a Bullet Fragment in a Mexican War (1846-1848) Soldier
Portable XRF Analysis for Field Archaeology – Etruscan site / Orvieto
Handheld XRF is a valuable tool for many samples of
archaeological importance - metallic artifacts like coins and
fibula; construction materials such as tiles, mortars and
cements, decorative pigments used on pottery and fresco.
The quick analysis times of this non-destructive, portable
instrument make it ideal for archaeology.
The number of samples that must be removed for later
analysis at a laboratory is minimized because many more
analyses can be done in situ.
A handheld XRF has been used for two seasons at an
archaeological site near Orvieto, Italy.
The site begins in the 8th century BCE as an Etruscan
settlement and, with no interruptions, ends with a Late
Antique phase.
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Handheld XRF for Shipwrecks
Dr. Raymond Hayes, Underwater Archaeologist,
made a major discovery in his investigation of
shipwrecks using a quick, non-destructive method to
analyze them - Handheld XRF.
Dr. Hayes analyzes wooden shipbuilding materials
including oakum, Irish felt, pine tar, caulking cotton,
copper sheathing, treenails, and metal fasteners. He
studies raw lumber, ship timbers, and various wood
treatments for comparative baseline data.
Shipwrecks he's studied include the Gunboat
Philadelphia, Boca Chica Channel Wreck, USS
Scorpion, Cleopatra's Barge or Pride of Hawaii,
Charles W Morgan, Indiana, USS Tulip, USS
Housatonic, CSS Neuse and the CSS Alabama.
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Handheld XRF for Shipwrecks
Cape Cod's Oldest Shipwreck, The Sparrow-Hawk has been also studied by Dr. Hayes.
The Sparrow-Hawk ran aground near Plymouth in 1626 carrying English settlers headed for
Jamestown, Virginia. It was discovered after a storm in 1863 and exhibited at Boston Common in 1865.
The Olympus DELTA XRF analyzer indicated that the wood absorbed elements from materials it came
in contact with over the years. Iron (Fe) could be from original posts and fasteners. Chlorine (Cl) is
likely from the salt of the ocean. Elements such as sulfur (S) and calcium (Ca) may be remnants from
sea life attached to the wood over time. Silicon (Si) could simply be from sand.
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Schematic of Shipwreck Data Points Soil Foot and Board of Balance Measuring Tape Guided Analysis
Handheld XRF for Shipwrecks
It is unlikely that any metal from the Sparrow-Hawk would have survived over time simply from scavenging.
However, the metal post found in the stern and the metal fasteners found where the rudder attached did
have different compositions.
The post may have been inserted in the 1860's when it was brought from Cape Cod to be exhibited on
Boston Common. The fasteners may have been attached around 1890 when it was transported back to
Plymouth.
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Stern Post DELTA Camera Shot of Fastener Test Fasteners Near Rudder Attachment
The Liberty Bell – 1751 Philadelphia USA
The Liberty Bell is over 200 years old, and is
one of the USA's most treasured symbols of
liberty
Cracking on its test ring in 1752
Remelted and recast 3 times only to have a
poor tone
The Liberty Bell rang out from the tower of
Independence Hall on July 8, 1776,
summoning citizens to hear the first public
reading of the Declaration of Independence
Before 1846, the Bell developed a crack
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The Liberty Bell – 1751 Philadelphia USA
Radiography performed in 1975 by
KODAK
In 2001, a man suddenly began to attack
the Liberty Bell with a hammer
Boeing was asked to help with the repair
because of their expertise in metal
structures and nondestructive evaluation
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Boeing NDT specialists performed a series of
nondestructive tests to evaluate the possible
damage to the Bell and also to document the overall
structural status of the Bell. These tests included:
Radiographs of the bell were taken that were
compared to radiographs taken more than 25
years ago.
Fluorescent penetrant inspection was
performed on a small area of the bell to check for
possible cracks from the attack. (See picture)
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The Liberty Bell – 1751 Philadelphia USA
Ultrasonic inspection was performed to attempt
to locate any internal flaws within the Bell.
An eddy current inspection was conducted to
map the surface cracks on the bell. The data
obtained from this inspection was used as a
baseline to compare and crack propagation that
may occur in the future.
Eddy current methods were used to measure
the electrical conductivity of the Bell's bronze
casing at a various points to evaluate its
uniformity. In the picture below, the white dots on
the Bell indicate spots where conductivity
measurements were taken.
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The Liberty Bell – 1751 Philadelphia USA
Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic
The statue of Saint Wenceslas in Prague, Czech Republic depicts
Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia during 921 … 935.
The bronze equestrian statue of St Wenceslas at the Wenceslas
Square is one of the most famous sculptures in Prague made by
Josef Václav Myslbek.
The monument was created in 1887 -1924, the bronze equestrian
statue of St Wenceslas is 5.5 m high, the height with the pike is 7.2 m
and the weight is 5.5 t.
The statue is hollow, assembled out of casts based on a plaster
model.
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Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic
Olympus has been asked to perform a
Videoendoscope inspection of the
internal structure.
Inspection has been performed during
in August 2004.
The IPLEX SA has been used.
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Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic
IPLEX SA has been used during 2004 inspection.
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Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic
IPLEX SA has been used during 2004 inspection.
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Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic
IPLEX SA has been used during 2004 inspection.
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Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic
Olympus has been asked again to
perform a Videoendoscope inspection
of the internal structure.
Inspection has been performed during
September 2017.
The new IPLEX NX has been used.
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Statue of Saint Wenceslas, Prague / Czech Republic
Internal corrosion and integrity of bolt joints have been investigated.
Local repairs has been performed in order to stop corrosion.
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Endless Column – Constantin Brancusi / 1938 / Tg.Jiu Romania
The Endless Column symbolizes the concept of infinity and the
infinite sacrifice of the Romanian soldiers.
It is considered by Sydnei Geist the top point of the modern art.
The Endless Column stacks 17 rhomboidal modules, with a half-
unit at the top.
The incomplete top unit is thought to be the element that
expresses the concept of the infinite.
Completed on 27 October 1938.
All 17 rhomboidal modules accumulate a total height of 29.3 m.
It suffered from tilting, cracking, metal corrosion and an unstable
foundation.
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Ultrasonic testing for the welds
and structure
Videoendoscopy inspection for
internal corrosion assessment
There is a central carbon steel
pole to sustain the entire
structure
Replacement of the central
pole with stainless steel one
was not necessary as only
about 2% corrosion has been
detected
Penetrant testing for surface
cracks
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Endless Column – Constantin Brancusi / 1938 / Tg.Jiu Romania
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Endless Column – Constantin Brancusi / 1938 / Tg.Jiu Romania
Several repairing methods has
been tried
Internal structure looks still
strong
Main problems were related to
the external surface condition
and colour
The monument is still under
investigation and assessment
CONCLUSIONS
NDT technologies become decisive for cultural heritage objects assessment
NDT becomes a standard approach for many applications
NDT is the tool for finding methods for preserving & restoring of historical objects
Several historical treasures has been damage due to wrong method of preserving
Some governments decide that NDT is mandatory for valuable historical objects
There are new developments of NDT methods designed especially for such applications
The role of NDT specialists on such applications is become essential
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