K0-INAA of Venezuelan ceramics and complete statistical analysis to establish their provenance

Felix E. Pino, A. M. Sajo-Castelli, Haydn Barros, Peter Vermaercke, Liesel Sneyers, Laszlo Sajo-Bohus, Maria Magdalena Mackowiak de Antczak, Andrzej Antczak

Research outputpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A group of 46 archaeological figurines samples (ad 1300 and 1500) from Venezuelan mainland and northern island were analyzed by k0-instrumental neutron activation analysis (k0-INAA) to obtain their elemental content and give a step ahead to establish the provenance of the island figurines. In total 37 elemental concentrations were measured with uncertainties between 3 and 20 %. To make the study of provenance, a complete statistical analysis was achieved; Fisher linear discriminant, principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering and the Hotelling T2 test were used to this end. Furthermore, not only the 46 samples analyzed in this work by k0-INAA were used, but also 40 samples analyzed by PGNAA and reported by Sajo-Bohus et al. (JRNC 265(2):247-256, 2005) were included in the statistical analysis. It was done in order to increase the size of the data set, and then to obtain from the statistical techniques more reliable results. It was found that a very good differentiation exits between the figurines from the island and from the mainland supporting the idea that the raw materials of the figurines come from different places.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1257-1272
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Volume298
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Pollution
  • Spectroscopy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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