Article Title：Neutron activation analysis and provenance research in archaeology
Abstract：
Neutron activation analysis is a powerful quantitative analytical technique with application in a broad range of disciplines such as agriculture, archaeology, geochemistry, health and human nutrition, environmental monitoring and semiconductor technology. Due to its excellent sensitivity, great accuracy and precision, and versatility, the technique is a suitable method for analysing many different types of samples. Archaeologists, in particular, have made extensive use of neutron activation analysis for the purpose of characterizing archaeological materials and determining their provenance. This paper presents a brief history of the technique and its application to archaeology, describes the physics behind the analytical method, and explains how the method is generally employed to determine the sources of archaeological materials.
Keywords: neutron activation analysis; nuclear reactions; cross-sections; thermal neutrons; gamma-ray spectra; provenance; ceramics; clays; obsidian; chert; multivariate statistics
DOI: 10.1088/0957-0233/14/9/304
Source：MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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