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Neutron activation analysis of archaeological artifacts using the conventional relative method: a realistic approach for analysis of large samples

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Abstract

A new approach for analysis of entire potsherds of archaeological interest by INAA, using the conventional relative method, is described. The analytical method proposed involves, primarily, the preparation of replicates of the original archaeological pottery, with well known chemical composition (standard), destined to be irradiated simultaneously, in a well thermalized external neutron beam of the RP-10 reactor, with the original object (sample). The basic advantage of this proposal is to avoid the need of performing complicated effect corrections when dealing with large samples, due to neutron self shielding, neutron self-thermalization and gamma ray attenuation. In addition, and in contrast with the other methods, the main advantages are the possibility of evaluating the uncertainty of the results and, fundamentally, validating the overall methodology.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the acceptance of the research project (CRP project 15524), which made it possible the implementation of the method.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. División de Técnicas Analíticas Nucleares, Instituto Peruano de Energía Nuclear, Av. Canadá 1470, Lima, 41, Perú

    Patricia S. Bedregal, Pablo A. Mendoza & Eduardo H. Montoya

  2. Unidad de Posgrado, Facultad de Química e Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Pabellón de Química, Ciudad Universitaria, Lima, Perú

    Patricia S. Bedregal

  3. Secretaría de Ciencia, Tecnología y Posgrado, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Avellaneda, Av. Mitre 750, 1870, Avellaneda, República Argentina

    Isaac M. Cohen

  4. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Buenos Aires, Av. Medrano 951, C1179AAQ, Buenos Aires, República Argentina

    Isaac M. Cohen

  5. División de Materiales, Instituto Peruano de Energía Nuclear, Av. Canadá 1470, Lima, 41, Perú

    Oscar Baltuano

Authors
  1. Patricia S. Bedregal
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  2. Pablo A. Mendoza
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  3. Isaac M. Cohen
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  4. Oscar Baltuano
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  5. Eduardo H. Montoya
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia S. Bedregal.

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Bedregal, P.S., Mendoza, P.A., Cohen, I.M. et al. Neutron activation analysis of archaeological artifacts using the conventional relative method: a realistic approach for analysis of large samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 291, 37–42 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1258-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1258-9

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