Geochemical characterization of flint artifacts by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with laser sampling (LA-ICP-MS) : Results and prospects
Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.5, No.2, 2005, pages 49-62
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Pages:
49-62
Section Title:
Articles
Author:
Abstract:
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry with laser sampling (LA-ICP-MS) was appliedin the chemical characterization of flint artifacts of different geologic and geographic provenance inorder to examine the mode and extent of chemical variability inside the pieces, and to find out anykey parameters for provenance studies. The chemical variability of flint within the tools was foundto be high due to sedimentary and diagenetic processes. However, this variability was low ifcompared to the variability existing between different geologic formations, and between differentstratigraphie levels and outcrops of the same formation. Therefore, despite the chemical variabilitywhich requires a representative number of micro-samplings to be performed, LA-ICP-MS mayprovide a great deal of geochemical information in the field of flint provenance studies.
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Keywords:
Flint lithic industries, Umbria, Central Italy, Geochemistry, Provenance
