Recent Advances in Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Archaeology

This book explores different aspects of LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). It presents a large array of new analytical protocols for elemental or isotope analysis. LA-ICP-MS is a powerful tool that combines a sampling device able to remove very small quantities of material without leaving visible damage at the surface of an object. Furthermore, it functions as a sensitive analytical instrument that measures, within a few seconds, a wide range of isotopes in inorganic samples. Determining the elemental or the isotopic composition of ancient material is essential to address questions related to ancient technology or provenance and therefore aids archaeologists in reconstructing exchange networks for goods, people and ideas. Recent improvements of LA-ICP-MS have opened new avenues of research that are explored in this volume.

1. Instrumentation, Fundamentals, and Application of Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. - Part I. Sample Introduction. - 2. Introduction to Solid Sampling Strategies. - 3. Open-Cell Ablation Of Killke and Inka Pottery from The Cuzco Area: Museum Collections as Repositories of Provenience Information. - 4. Optimization of 2D LA-ICP-MS Mapping of Glass With Decorative Colored Features: Application To Analysis Of A Polychrome Vessel Fragment From The Iron Age. - 5. LA-ICP-MS Analysis of Ancient Silver Coins Using Concentration Profiles. - Part II. Application to Non-Siliceous Materials. - 6. Analysis of Non-Siliceous Archaeological Materials by LA-ICP-MS. - 7. Precise And Accurate Analysis Of Gold Alloys: Varna, The EarliestGold Of Mankind A Case Study. - 8. LA-ICP-MS Analysis Of Prehistoric Copper And Bronze Metalwork From Armenia. - Part III. Application to Vitreous Materials. - 9. Analysis of Vitreous Archaeological Materials by LA-ICP-MS. - 10. Contributions Of LA-ICP-MS To Obsidian Sourcing In The Pacific. - 11. The role of LA-ICP-MS in The Investigation of Archaeological Glass. - 12. Glass Characterization Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Methods. - 13. A Proficiency Test For LA-ICP-MS Laboratories Analyzing Ancient Glass. - 14. Characterization of slag inclusions in iron objects. - Part IV. Expanding the application of LA-ICP-MS in archaeology. - 15. Expanded Applications ofLaser Ablation-ICP-MS in Archaeology . - 16. Determining The Provenience Of Garnet Beads Using LA-ICP-MS. - 17. Application Of LA-ICP-MS To Black Stone Objects Used During The Iron Age In Celtic Europe. - 18. Investigating Biogenic versus Diagenetic Trace Element Incorporation in Archaeological Mineralized Tissues with LA-ICP-MS.