What [More] Can LA-ICP-MS Do For Archaeology?

[更多] LA-ICP-MS 能为考古学做什么？

• 批准号: 0228187
• 负责人: Hector Neff
• 金额: $ 3.3万
• 依托单位: California State University-Long Beach Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-09-01 至 2004-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0228187&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: What; More; LA; ICP; MS

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a relatively new technique for chemical characterization of materials that has a great deal of potential for archaeological research. The analytical end of the instrument (the ICP-MS) is an extremely sensitive, precise analytical tool that is capable of measuring most elements of the periodic table at concentration levels of around one part per billion. With a computer-driven, laser-ablation front end, LA-ICP-MS can analyze solid materials in situ without chemical digestion. Moreover, since the laser can be targeted at spots as small as 5 - 10 microns in diameter, and ablation typically removes only about 5 microns of material, LA-ICP-MS amounts to a highly sensitive microprobe suitable for analyzing surfaces and small inclusions in heterogeneous matrices. In archaeology, potential applications of LA-ICP-MS include identification of sources and technology of slips, glazes, and paints on ancient ceramics; analysis of the effect of temper in ceramic provenance studies; determination of sources of turquoise, copper ore, and copper; and determination of sources of Maya jades. Over the past two years, Dr. Hector Neff and his collaborators have explored these and other potential archaeological applications. Although this research demonstrated some of the potential of LA-ICP-MS in archaeology, it also suggested that many potential applications are remaining unrecognized because very few archaeologists have access to the analytical instrumentation. The present project will broaden access by archaeologists to LA-ICP-MS instrumentation by supporting short-term visits (one to two weeks) to a LA-ICP-MS lab. A pilot short-term visitor program implemented during summer 2001 demonstrated the payoffs of such an approach. New materials were analyzed and new archaeological questions were investigated. In addition, individuals familiar with the archaeological materials were brought together with individuals familiar with LA-ICP-MS, and this led to rapid development of sampling designs and analytical protocols and a minimum of wasted time and effort. In some cases, new questions arose and were pursued during the visits. Overall, considerable excitement and productivity were generated by the projects, and this constituted a powerful motivation for PI Neff to seek funds to extend the program. Funds provided by this NSF grant will permit PI Neff and a series of short-term visitors to explore new and potentially innovative archaeological applications of LA-ICP-MS. Projects will be solicited from the US archaeological research community without restriction as to academic level (undergraduate through professional). Originators of the most novel projects will visit the state-of-the-art LA-ICP-MS laboratory at California State University, Long Beach, where they will work with PI Neff for periods of one to two weeks. In many cases, it is anticipated that research carried out during the initial visit will generate questions that will be addressed through more extensive sampling and analysis. Some areas in which this program is likely to make contributions to archaeological knowledge are relatively easy to identify (e.g., determination of the provenance of paints and pigments on ancient ceramics), but, since LA-ICP-MS is so new to archaeology, some surprising new kinds of applications may be anticipated as well.

激光烧蚀-电感耦合等离子体质谱（LA-ICP-MS）是一种相对较新的材料化学表征技术，在考古研究中具有很大的潜力。仪器的分析端（ICP-MS）是一种极其灵敏、精确的分析工具，能够测量浓度水平约为十亿分之一的元素周期表中的大多数元素。通过计算机驱动的激光烧蚀前端，LA-ICP-MS可以在不进行化学消化的情况下原位分析固体材料。此外，由于激光可以瞄准直径小至5 - 10微米的点，并且烧蚀通常仅去除约5微米的材料，因此LA-ICP-MS相当于适合于分析异质基质中的表面和小夹杂物的高灵敏度微探针。在考古学中，LA-ICP-MS的潜在应用包括鉴定古代陶瓷上的泥、釉和颜料的来源和技术;分析陶瓷产地研究中的回火效应;确定绿松石、铜矿和铜的来源;以及确定玛雅玉器的来源。在过去的两年里，Hector Neff博士和他的合作者探索了这些和其他潜在的考古应用。虽然这项研究证明了LA-ICP-MS在考古学中的一些潜力，但它也表明许多潜在的应用仍然没有得到承认，因为很少有考古学家能够使用分析仪器。本项目将通过支持对LA-ICP-MS实验室的短期访问（一到两周），扩大考古学家对LA-ICP-MS仪器的使用。2001年夏季实施的一项短期游客试点方案证明了这种做法的好处。分析了新的材料，研究了新的考古问题。此外，熟悉考古材料的个人与熟悉LA-ICP-MS的个人聚集在一起，这导致了采样设计和分析协议的快速发展，并将浪费的时间和精力降到最低。在有些情况下，出现了新的问题，在访问期间进行了调查。总的来说，这些项目产生了相当大的兴奋和生产力，这构成了PI Neff寻求资金以扩大计划的强大动力。这笔NSF赠款提供的资金将允许PI Neff和一系列短期访问者探索LA-ICP-MS的新的和潜在的创新考古应用。项目将从美国考古研究界征集，不受学术水平（本科到专业）的限制。最新颖的项目的发起人将访问最先进的LA-ICP-MS实验室在加州州立大学，长滩，在那里他们将与PI内夫的一至两个星期的时间。在许多情况下，预计初次访问期间进行的研究将产生一些问题，这些问题将通过更广泛的抽样和分析加以解决。该计划可能对考古知识做出贡献的一些领域相对容易识别（例如，LA-ICP-MS是一种新的技术，用于确定古代陶瓷上的颜料和颜料的来源），但是，由于LA-ICP-MS对考古学来说是如此新颖，因此也可以预期一些令人惊讶的新应用。