Physics Methods in Art & Archaeology. PHYS Philippe Collon

Transcription

1 Physics Methods in Art & Archaeology PHYS Philippe Collon Fall Semester 2009

2 Archaeologist in the 1930ties Somewhere in South America

3 80 years later --- in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt

4 Physics Tools & Technology Danger & Adventure is gone Physics tools and modern technology dominate the analysis of art and archaeological artifacts! biological techniques represent a new frontier! Sequencing of nucleotide bases, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine, in DNA provides heritable genetic information! Goal of course: Present a comprehensive overview of physics techniques Present examples for application of these techniques

5 1.1. Goals and Purpose of Archaeometry Within archaeological artifacts there is a record to which an archaeologist is blind but which a physicists can hope to read (M.J. Aitken, Physics Report 1978) To be able to read and analyze archaeological or historical artifacts, you need to probe the microstructure of the matter to determine it s consistency and age. This requires non-destructive methods for material analysis and material dating which are provided by the tools developed for atomic and nuclear spectroscopy!

6 Micro-analytical tools in physics 1. Requirements for physics analysis tools and monitors Must provide unique signature Must be non-destructive or must require limited sample size 2. Signatures and Observables a. Atomic & Nuclear Spectroscopy EM spectrum in IR, optical, and UV x-ray signatures γ-ray signatures b. Nuclear Radiation and Decay Nature of radiation Production of radiation Radiation decay

7 Purpose of Material Analysis Techniques Artifact Purpose of Material Analysis Material Identification Technology Analysis Location Analysis Stone Obsidian Marble mineral content tracer elements tracer elements O, Sr isotopes O isotopes Ceramics hardness, element tracer elements content, texture C profile Glass chem. components Silicat structure analysis of material element content characteristics, chem. Metal components, molecular hardness, alloy structure structure, elemental isotope distribution or isotope components Paint, Tinctures and distribution, texture chem. structure, element content, crystal phase Purpose of Material Dating Techniques Determine age of artifact or material

8 Physics Methods in Material Analysis Atomic Spectroscopy Techniques include: absorption and emission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy for molecular systems X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Nuclear Spectroscopy Methods range from: neutron activation techniques, nuclear resonance analysis, mass separation techniques natural decay measurements.

9 Physics Methods in Material Dating Biological, chemical & physics dating methods: Tree ring dating (Dendrochronology) Diffusion and Hydration Post-mortem chemistry, FUN, Amino Acid Archaeomagnetism Dating methods that rely on natural radioactivity: radio-carbon dating, potassium/argon dating, uranium/thorium dating, analysis of radiation damage, thermoluminiscence critical parameter, time-scale of radioactive clock!

10 Science methods for probing the forgotten & lost history of mankind!

11 Information, Schedules & Syllabus Philippe Collon: NSH 187, , Quian Li: NSH 122, , All lectures will be placed on the web: Home works will be given for each chapter, solutions are due the following week Tutorial lectures will be offered: tentatively scheduled for each Tue 5:30-6:30 pm 1 Lab-tour and 4 demonstration (XRF, PIXE, NAT, AMS) will be organized for 1-2 groups students.

12 Books, Literature, Web M.J. Aitken; Science-based Dating in Archaeology, Longman, London Hesburgh Library General Collection: CC 78.A S. Bowman; Radiocarbon Dating; Univ. of California Press, Berkeley & Los Angeles Hesburgh Library General Collection: CC 78.B E. Ciliberto & G. Spoto; Modern Analytical Methods in Art and Archeology; Wiley, New York Hesburgh Library General Collection: N 8558.M D.C. Creagh & D.A. Bradley; Radiation in Art and Archaeometry; Elsevier, Amsterdam Chem/Physics General Collection: N R33 R S. Fleming; Dating in Archaeology; St. Martin s Press, New York, Hesburgh Library General Collection: CC 78.F H. E. Gove; From Hiroshima to the Iceman; Institute of Physics, Bristol & Philadelphia Chem/Physics General Collection: QC 454.A25 G N. Herz & E. Garrison; Geological Methods for Archaeology; Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford Hesburgh Library General Collection: CC 77.5.H S. Johansson, J. Campbell & K. Malmquist; Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission Spectrometry (PIXE); John Wiley & Sons, New York Chem/Physics General Collection: QD 96.X2 P

13 J. Lang & A. Middleton; Radiography of Cultural Material; Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford Hesburgh Library General Collection: N 8558.R J. Lilley; Nuclear Physics Principles and Applications; Wiley & Sons, New York Chem/Physics (231 Nieuwland) General Collection: QC 776.L A. M. Sackler Colloquia; Scientific Examination of Art; National Academics of Science Press, Washington, DC W. S. Taft, J. W. Mayer; The Science of Paintings; Springer Verlag, New York Chem/Physics General Collection: ND 1143 T C. Tuniz, J. R. Bird, D. Fink, G. F. Herzog; Accelerator Mass Spectrometry; CRC Boca Raton Chem/Physics General Collection: QC 454 A25 A M. Uda, G. Demortier, I, Nakai; X-Rays for Archaeology; Springer Verlag, Dordrecht 2005 ordered by library F. Watt & G.W. Grime; Principles and Applications of High-Energy Ion Microbeams; Adam Hilger, Bristol Chem/Physics General Collection: QC B65 P Journal articles and web-sites will be announced in the lecture notes: articles can be found in electronic version at the Notre Dame Library:

14 Projects Radiography and Raman spectroscopy in the analysis of Vermeer painting techniques The Archimedes Palimpsest, X-ray fluorescence as a tool for deciphering ancient manuscripts PIXE applications in Mesoamerican pottery analysis Fake and forgery, scientific methods to unmask forgeries by Hans van Meegeren. The shroud of Turin, what are the uncertainties of 14C dating The Vinland map, real or fake? The origin of man, tracing the Neanderthal man Piltdown Man, proof of fake? GPR sub-surface search techniques in archaeology The Alvarez experiment, cosmic ray search for a hidden chamber on the Chephren pyramid.

15 Requirements for each group 10 minute power-point presentation or overheads (last weeks of classes)! 10 page (or more) report with first version due on October 26 - (first class after break)! The report and presentation should contain: short introduction into subject description of the goal of scientific investigation scientific method and technique results of scientific investigation conclusion bibliography of used material (including web addresses) attached copies of most relevant material/literature used Participation of each member of the group should be demonstrated!

16 Exams, Presentations, and Grades Welcome to Class!