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Characterization of Slag Inclusions in Iron Objects

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Recent Advances in Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Archaeology

Part of the book series: Natural Science in Archaeology ((ARCHAEOLOGY))

Abstract

Tracing the origins of iron artifacts generates great interest in iron metallurgy. Chemical analysis of non-metallic slag inclusion (SI) entrapped in iron produced in bloomery furnaces is an efficient mean for provenance studies as, within their composition, SI do not only carry the conditions of production but also the chemical signature of the iron ore initially used. The analytical protocol is a three stage process: (a) metallographic identification and selection of SI, (b) characterization of their main component using SEM-EDX, (c) traces element determination using LA-ICP-MS. LA-ICP-MS analysis allows to quantify up to 39 trace elements in the fayalitic-rich matrix of SI with detection limits at the ppm level. Compositional ratios are then compared with one another and to the chemical signature of previously analysed regions of production. The methodology was applied on iron armatures from the cathedral of Bourges to study their fabrication, their installation in the building and their provenance. Results obtained allow a better understanding of the role of these armatures and the supply of this construction site.

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Acknowledgements

The study of the cathedral of Bourges was funded by a Region Centre research project grant. We would like to thank Patrick Ponsot, Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques for Bourges cathedral, and Jean-Pierre Blin, former Curator of Historical Monuments of Région Centre for granting us the authorisation to work and sample on the cathedral.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History, Université Paris 8, EA 1571 Histoire des Pouvoirs, Savoirs et Sociétés (HPSS), 2, rue de la liberté, 93 526, Saint Denis, France

    Maxime L’Héritier

  2. Laboratoire Archéomatériaux et Prévision de l’Altération (LAPA), IRAMAT LMC, UMR 5060 CNRS and NIMBE UMR 3685 CEA/CNRS, CEA/Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

    Stéphanie Leroy & Philippe Dillmann

  3. Institut de Recherche sur les Archéomatériaux, Centre Ernest Babelon, CNRS/Université d’Orléans, 3D rue de la Férollerie, 45071, Orléans Cedex 2, France

    Bernard Gratuze

Authors
  1. Maxime L’Héritier
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  2. Stéphanie Leroy
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  3. Philippe Dillmann
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  4. Bernard Gratuze
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maxime L’Héritier .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Integrative Research Center, Elemental Analysis Facility, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Laure Dussubieux

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA

    Mark Golitko

  3. Institut de Recherche sur les Archéomatériaux Centre Ernest Babelon, CNRS/Université d’Orléans, Orléans, France

    Bernard Gratuze

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L’Héritier, M., Leroy, S., Dillmann, P., Gratuze, B. (2016). Characterization of Slag Inclusions in Iron Objects. In: Dussubieux, L., Golitko, M., Gratuze, B. (eds) Recent Advances in Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Archaeology. Natural Science in Archaeology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49894-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49894-1_14

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-49892-7

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