Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

PIXE Analysis of Pre-Hispanic Items from Ancient America

  • Chapter
X-rays for Archaeology

Abstract

In this work, a review of applications of Particle Induced X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (PIXE) for analysis of ancient artifacts and materials from various ancient civilizations from different American cultural regions is presented. Obsidians, pottery, metallic items (gold and bronze), teeth, pigments, stucco and decorations of pottery are the most studied materials using PIXE. Artifacts and materials from museums and archaeological excavations have been studied using various analytical approaches. Several methodologies and their results are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. M.A. Respaldiza M.A. and J. Gómez-Camacho eds., Applications of Ion Beam Analysis Techniques to Arts and Archaeometry, Universidad de Sevilla, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  2. S. A. E. Johansson, J.L. Campbell and K. G. Malmqvist. Particle-Induced X-ray Emission Spectrometry (PIXE). Chemical Analysis: Series of monograph on analytical chemistry and its applications, vol. 133, J. D. Widefrodner series ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  3. S. A. E. Johansson and J. L. Campbell, PIXE: A novel technique for elemental analysis, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  4. G. Demortier, Application of nuclear microprobes to material of archaeological interest. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 30 (1988) 434–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. G. Demortier, Review of the recent applications of high energy microprobes in arts and archaeology”. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 54 (1991) 334–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ch. P. Swann., Review of the recent applications of the nuclear microprobe to arts and archaeology, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 104 (1995) 576–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ch. P. Swann., Recent applications of the nuclear microprobe to the study of arts objects and archaeological artifacts, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 130 (1997) 289–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J. R. Tesmer and M. Nastasi, eds., Handbook of Modern Ion Beam Materials Analysis. Materials Research Society, Pittsburg, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. C. Dran, Th. Calligaro and J. Salomon, Particle Induced X-ray Emission, in Modern analytical Methods in Art and Archaeology, E. Ciliberto and C. Spoto eds., Chemical Analysis: Series of monograph on analytical chemistry and its applications, vol. 155, J. D. Widefrodner series ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2000. p. 135–166.

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. Cesareo, G. E. Gigante, J. S. Iwanczyk, M. A. Rosales M. Aliphat and P. Avila, Non destructive analysis of pre-Hispanic gold objects using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence. Rev. Mex. Fís. 40.No. 2 (1994) 301–308.

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. Seelenfreund, J. Miranda, M. I. Dinator and J. R. Morales, The provenance of archaeological obsidian artifacts from Northern Chile determined by source-induced X-ray fluorescence, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 251No.1 (2002) 15–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. C. R. Appoloni, F. R. Espinoza Quiñones, P. H. A. Aragão, A. O. dos Santos, L. M. da Silva, P. F. Barbieri, V. F. do Nascimento Fihlo and M. M. Coimbra, EDXRF study of Tupi-Gaurani archaeological ceramics, Rad. Phys. and Chem. 61 (2001) 711–712.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. C. Heitz, G. Lagarde, A. Pape, D. Tenorio, C. Zarate, M. Menu, L. Scotee, A. Jaidar, R. Alviso, D. Gonzalez and V. Gonzalez, Radioisotope Induced X-ray Emisión-A complementary Method to PIXE analysis, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 14 (1986) 93–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. K. Malmqvist, Comparison between PIXE and XRF for applications in art and archaeology, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 14 (1986) 86–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. A. J. Kreiner, M. J. Ozafrán, M. E. Vázquez, A. S. M. A. Romo, M. A. Cardona, M. E. Debray, D. Hojman, J. M. Kesque, J. J. Menéndez, H. Somacal, J. Davison and M. Davison, Heavy Ion induced X-ray emission work at the TANDAR laboratory in Buenos Aires, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 99 (1995) 384–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. M. A Rizzutto, M. H. Tabaniks, N. Added, R. Liguori Neto, J. C. Acquedro, M. M. Vilela, T. R. C. F. Oliveira, R. A. Markariana and M. Mori, External PIGE-PIXE measurements at the Sao Paulo 8UD tandem accelerator. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 190 (2002) 186–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. C. M. Romo-Kröger, L. Cornejo-Ponce, J. R. Morales, M. I. Dinator, M. J. Avila, V. H. Poblete, J. Galvez, A. Goldschmidt, A. Trier, J. Valdes, C. M. Rojas, M. E. Cantillano, R. Vera, R. Figueroa and M. Garcia, An overview of X-ray spectrometry at research centers in Chile, X-ray Spectrom. 31 (2002) 128–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. J. Rickards, L. Torres, F. Franco and M. D. Flores, Análisis por la técnica PIXE de artefactos de oro del Museo Nacional de Antropología, Revista Antropológicas, IIA-UNAM, No. 15 (1999) 71.

    Google Scholar 

  19. J. L. Ruvalcaba Sil, M. Monroy, J. G. Morales and K. López, The new external beam set-up of the Pelletron Accelerator at the UNAM, Mexico, IX International Conference on Particle Induced X-ray Emission and its Analytical Applications, Guelph, Canada, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  20. J. R. Morales, M. I. Dinator, F. Llona, J. Saavedra and F. Falabella, Sample preparation of archaeological materials for PIXE analysis, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. Letters, 187(1) (1994) 79–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. C. P. Swann, S. Caspi and J. Carlson, Six stirrup handled Moche ceramic vessels from pre-Columbian Peru: A technical study applying PIXE spectrometry, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 150 (1999) 571–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. G. Querré, Une statuette feminine en terre cuite de la culture Chupícuaro (Mexique), Techne No.11 (2000) 47–52.

    Google Scholar 

  23. D. C. Gosser, M. A. Ohnersorgen, A. W. Simon and J. W. Mayer, PIXE analysis of Salado polychrome ceramics of the American Southwest, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 136-138 (1998) 880–887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. J. R. Morales, M. I. Dinator, F. Llona and F. Falabella. Aplicaciones de PIXE y EDXRF en el estudio de cerámicas prehispánicas de Chile Central, IV Seminario Latinoamericano de Análisis por Té cnicas de Rayos X, 1994, Chile.

    Google Scholar 

  25. D. Tenorio, G. Acosta, M. Bordas, J. Larcher, G-Lagarde, C. Heitz, and A. Jaidar, Thick target X-ray yields and intensity ratios for MeV Br and Kr ion impact and application to the analysis of pottery, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 15 (1986) 612–615.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, M. A. Ontalba Salamanca, L. Manzanilla, J. Miranda, J. Cañetas Ortega and C. López, Characterization of pre-Hispanic pottery from Teotihuacan, Mexico, by a combined PIXE-RBS and XRD analysis. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 150 (1999) 591–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. M. A. Ontalba Salamanca, J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, L. Bucio, L. Manzanilla and J. Miranda, Ion beam analysis of pottery from Teotihuacan, Mexico. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 161-163 (2000) 762–768.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. E. Ortíz, L. Lazos, J. L. Ruvalcaba Sil and L. Bucio, Interdisciplinary Approach for Pottery Analysis of Caxonos River Basin, Oaxaca, Antropología y Técnica, IIA-UNAM, 6 (2000) 85–94.

    Google Scholar 

  29. L. Lazos, L. Bucio, J. L. Ruvalcaba, J. Litvak, and E. Ortiz, An Interdisciplinary approach for the study of archeological pottery from Oaxaca, Mexico. Proceedings of the 33rd International Symposium on Archaeometry 2002, Amsterdam, p. 97.

    Google Scholar 

  30. J. L. Ruvalcaba, L. Bucio, G. Gutiérrez and J. G. Morales, Characterization of pottery by PIXE and XRD: The problem of results interpretation in provenance archaeological studies, 66th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, New Orleans, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Y. Martínez, J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, A. Sellen, A. Ramírez and L. Bucio, Analysis of the Zapotec Urns from the Royal Onatrio Museum. Proceedings of The Use of Ion beams in Materials Science, Medicine and Archaeology, LARN, Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  32. A. Sellen, J. Litvak, J. L. Ruvalcaba, L. Bucio, L. Lazos and E. Ortiz D. How to Spot a Fake. Preliminary Results for an Authenticity Study on Zapotec Urns from the Rickards collection at the Royal Ontario Museum. Proceedings of the 32nd International Symposium Archaeometry, Mexico. In CD, IIA-UNAM, Mexico 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  33. J. Miranda, A. Oliver, A. Dacal, J. L. Ruvalcaba, F. Cruz and M. E. Ortiz, PIXE analysis of cave sediments, prehispanic painting and obsidians cuttings tools from Baja California Sur caves,. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 75 (1993) 454–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. D. Tenorio, M. Jiménez-Reyes and G. Lagarde, Mexican obsidian samples analysed by PIXE and AAS. Int. J. PIXE 7No. 1&2 (1997) 17–24.

    Google Scholar 

  35. G. Murillo, R. Policroniades, D. Tenorio, B. Méndez, E. Andrade, J. C. Pineda, E. P. Zavala and J. L. Torres, Analyses of Mexican obsidians by IBA techniques, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 136-138 (1998) 888–892.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. R. Esparza, D. Tenorio, M. Jiménez-Reyes, G. Murillo and L. Torres-Montes, Provenance of Obsidian Artifacts studied by PIXE from Lagunillas, an archaeological site in Michoacán, México, Int. J. PIXE 11No. 1&2 (2001) 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  37. A. Seelenfreund, Ch. Rees, R. Bird, G. Bailey, R. Bárcena and V. Durán. Trace element analysis of obsidian sources and artifacts of central Chile (mauler river basin) and Western Argentina (Colorado River), Latin American Antiquity 7(1) (1996) 7–20.

    Google Scholar 

  38. L. Bellot-Gulet, Th. Calligaro, O. Dorigehl, J.-C. Dran, G. Poupeau and J. Salomon, PIXE and Fission track dating of obsidian from South American prehispanic cultures (Colombia, Ecuador), Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 150 (1999) 616–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. G. Demortier. Ion beam analysis of gold jewerly, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 64 (1992) 481–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. G. Demortier, Elementanalyse von Goldschmuck in Physik in unserer Zeit, Nr. 1, 23 Jahrg. (1992) 13–21.

    Google Scholar 

  41. J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, G. Demortier and A. Oliver, External Beam Analysis of Gold Pre-Hispanic Mexican Jewelry. Int. J. PIXE 5 (1995) 273–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. W. Bray, Techniques of gilding and surface enrichment in pre-Hispanic American metallurgy, in Metal Plating and Patination, S. La Niece and P. Craddock eds. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 1993, p.182.

    Google Scholar 

  43. D. A. Scott, Depletion gilding and surface treatment of gold alloys from the Narino area of ancient Colombia, J. Hist. Metall. Soc. 172 (1983) 99.

    Google Scholar 

  44. S. J. Fleming, C. P. Swann, P. E. McGovern and L. Horne, Characterization of ancient materials using PIXE spectrometry. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 49 (1990) 293–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. G. Demortier and J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, Differential PIXE Analysis of Mesoamerican jewelry items, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 118 (1996) 352–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, Analyse non destructive par faisceaux d’ions de bijoux anciens d’Amé rique, PhD Thesis, Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  47. J. L. Ruvalcaba Sil, Estudio no destructivo mediante haces de partículas de la técnica de dorado Mise en Couleur, in Tecnologías Metalúrgicas en América Prehispánica. Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM., D. K. de Grinberg, y F. Franco coord., 2002, p. 129–143.

    Google Scholar 

  48. J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil and G. Demortier, Elemental concentration depth profile in ancient gold artifacts by ion beam scattering, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 113 (1996) 275–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. H. Letchmann, A pre-Columbian technique for electrochemical replacement plating of gold and silver on copper objects, J. Metals, December 1979, 154.

    Google Scholar 

  50. J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil and G. Demortier, Scanning RBS-PIXE study of ancient artifacts from South America using a microbeam, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 130 (1997) 297–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. G. Demortier, Y. Morciaux and D. Dozot, PIXE, XRF and GRT for the global investigation of ancient gold artefacts, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 99 (1995) 384–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. S. J. Fleming and C. P. Swann, Pre-Hispanic copper alloy production at Batán Grande, Peru: Interpretation of the analytical data of ore samples, in Archaeometry of pre-Columbian sites and artifacts, D. A. Scott and P. Meyers, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1994, 199–229.

    Google Scholar 

  53. U. Méndez, D. Tenorio and J. L. Ruvalcaba Sil, Análisis Metalúrgico de las Ofrendas del Templo Mayor de Tenochtitlán mediante Técnicas Nucleares y Convencionales in Tecnologías Metalú rgicas en América Prehispánica. Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM., D. K. de Grinberg, y F. Franco coord., 2002, p. 71–83.

    Google Scholar 

  54. J. W. Palmer, M. G. Hollander, P. S. Z. Rogers, T. M. Benjamin, C. J. Duffy, J. B. Lambert and J. A. Brown, Pre-Columbian metallurgy: technology, manufacture and microprobe analysis of copper bells from the Greater Southwest, Archaeom. 402 (1998) 361–382.

    Google Scholar 

  55. J. L. Ruvalcaba, B. M. Monroy, A. Morales, L. Lowe and C. Alvarez, PIXE Analyses of Mayan Copper Artifacts. Proceedings of the 33rd International Symposium on Archaeometry 2002, Amsterdam, p.18.

    Google Scholar 

  56. V. Rodríguez-Lugo, L. Ortiz-Velázquez, J. Miranda, M. Ortiz-Rojas and V. M. Castaño, Study of prehispanic wall paintings from Xochicalco, México, using PIXE, XRD, SEM, and FTIR, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 240no. 2 (1999) 561–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. C. Martínez, J. L. Ruvalcaba, M. A. Ontalba and L. Manzanilla. Caracterización mediante Haces de Partículas: Estudios Interdisciplinarios de Pintura Mural Teotihuacana, XXIV Coloquio Internacional de Historia del Arte: Arte y Ciencia P. Krieger Ed., Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, UNAM, 2002, p. 239–263.

    Google Scholar 

  58. J. Miranda, M. L. Gallardo, D. M. Grimaldi, J. A. Román-Berrelleza, J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, M. A. Ontalba Salamanca and J. G. Morales, Pollution effects on stone benches of the Eagle Warriors Precinct at the Major Temple, Mexico City. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 150 (1999) 611–615.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. A. Y. Du, N. F. Mangelson, L. B. Rees and R. T. Matheny, PIXE elemental analysis of South American mummy hair, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 109/110 (1996) 673–676.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. E. Andrade, J. C. Pineda, E. P. Zavala, G. Murillo, R. Chávez, R. Lazcurain, Ma. L. Espinosa and O. Villanueva, IBA analysis of a possible therapeutic ancient tooth inlay, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 136-138 (1998). 908.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. C. Solis, A. Oliver, L. Rodríguez-Fernández, E. Andrade, M. E. Chavez-Lomeli, J. Mansilla and O. Saldivar, Lead levals in Mexican human teeth from different historical periods using PIXE, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 118 (1996) 359–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. C. Solis, A. Oliver, E. Andrade, R. Macias, J. Mansilla and M. E. Chávez-Lomeli, Trace element analysis of teeth from pre-Columbian Population groups in México, Int. J. PIXE 9No. 3&4 (1999) 501–508.

    Google Scholar 

  63. L. Rodríguez-Fernández, J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, M. A. Ontalba, J. A. Román-Berrelleza, M. L. Gallardo, D. M. Grimaldi, O. G. de Lucio and J. Miranda, Ion beam analysis of ancient Mexican colored teeth from archaeological sites in Mexico City. Nucl. Instrum. and Meth. B 150 (1999) 663–666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. J. Mansilla, C. Solis, M. E. Chávez-Lomeli and J. E. Gama, Analysis of colored teeth from Precolumbian Tlatelolco: Postmorter transformation or intravitam processes?, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 1201 (2003) 73–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil, L. Bucio Galindo, M. A. Marín, A. Velázquez Castro, F. Hinojosa, J. Carrillo and M. A. Ontalba Salamanca, Non-destructive analyses of turquoise samples from Templo Mayor, Mexico, by ion beams and XRD, 32nd. International Symposium on Archaeometry, 2000, México. p. 244–245.

    Google Scholar 

  66. J. Kim, A. Simon, V. Ropoche, J. Mayer and B. Wilkens, PIXE Analysis of Turquoise artifacts from Salado platform mound sites in the Tonto basin of Central Arizona, Proceedings of the IBA conference, Arizona State University, 2003, p1–50.

    Google Scholar 

  67. L. Lowe and J. L. Ruvalcaba Sil, Provenance Studies of Amber by PIXE, Antropología y Técnica, IIA-UNAM, 6 (2000) 41–48.

    Google Scholar 

  68. G. Querré, Une statuette anthropomorphe du Mexique, Techne No.11 (2000) 84–87.

    Google Scholar 

  69. J. L. Ruvalcaba Sil, L. Gallardo and F. Lucarelli, PIXE analysis on paper-like samples and various items from offering 102, Templo Mayor, Mexico. Bienal Report Book 2000–2001, Dipartimento di Fisica, Laboratorio Van de Graaff K3000. Universitá degli Studi di Firenze, Italia. In print.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Física, UNAM, Apdo. postal 20-364, México, DF 01000, Mexico

    J. L. Ruvalcada Sil

Authors
  1. J. L. Ruvalcada Sil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Waseda University, 3-4-1 Ohkubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    M. Uda

  2. Namur University, Namur, Belgium

    G. Demortier

  3. University of Tokyo, Japan

    I. Nakai

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sil, J.L.R. (2005). PIXE Analysis of Pre-Hispanic Items from Ancient America. In: Uda, M., Demortier, G., Nakai, I. (eds) X-rays for Archaeology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3581-0_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation