The Investigation of Archaeological Glass Using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy and X-Ray Micro Computed Tomography

Abstract

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and X-ray micro computed tomography (μ-CT) were applied to the study of four archaeological glass objects from the collection of the Allard Pierson in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Often, little is known about the provenience and provenance of archaeological glass objects, as documentation is regularly insufficient to assign a specific place and date of excavation or place of production. This paper demonstrates the value of μ-CT for visualising the internal structures of archaeological glass objects, providing insight into production techniques and condition. The XRF results presented are consistent with published glass compositions but are, as yet, insufficient to assign the glass objects to a specific place of production. Part of a broader research project to apply non-destructive techniques to the study of archaeological glass objects, the results presented here will be the basis for the future evaluation of less commonly applied methods, such as neutron tomography and gamma spectroscopy.