Neutron Activation Analysis in the Archaeometry Laboratory at MURR

格拉斯科克博士将继续运营密苏里大学的考古中心，并利用中子活化分析技术分析考古材料的元素组成。这种多元素技术可以同时测定材料中的主要、次要和微量元素，并且具有相当的准确性和精密度。特别令人感兴趣的是对陶瓷、岩石、金属和骨头的潜在分析。通过对考古材料的元素分析，可以解决许多重要的问题。NAA提供了一种分类工具，因为它允许将成分相似的材料分组在一起。在某些情况下，它还允许文物的来源，从而可能提供有关采购做法、贸易路线和政治边界的信息。它还可以提高对古代技术的理解，并（通过对骨骼遗骸的分析）深入了解史前的饮食和营养。这个项目特别重要，因为密苏里实验室是为数不多的为考古学家提供NAA服务的实验室之一。它还在培训学生和维护大型数据库方面发挥重要作用，并正在积极努力促进对这些数据库的科学访问。

Dr. Glascock will continue to operate an archaeometric center at the University of Missouri and employ the technique of neutron activation analysis to analyze the elemental composition of archaeological materials. This multi-elemental technique which allows the major, minor and trace elements of a material to be determined simultaneously and with considerable accuracy and precision. Of particular interest are potential analyses of ceramics, lithics, metal and bone. Through elemental analysis of archaeological materials, a number of significant kinds of questions can be addressed. NAA provides a taxonomic tool because it allows materials of similar composition to be grouped together. In some instances, it also permits the proveniencing of artifacts and thus may provide information about procurement practices, routes of trade and political boundaries. It may also improve understanding of ancient technologies and (through analysis of skeletal remains) give insight into prehistoric diet and nutrition. This project is particularly important because the Missouri laboratory is one of the very few which provide NAA service to archaeologists. It also plays an important role in training students and it maintains large data bases and is working actively to facilitate scientific access to them.