Compatibility of measurement results for new protocols in archaeometry MUR Prin 2022 - 2022T5MCHH - CUP D53C24003290006

The project will develop, as the main goal, new protocols, tailored for quantitative analyses of major, minor and trace elements in archaeometry by setting metrological compatibility of the measurements obtained with a set of micro-invasive and non-invasive analytical techniques for solid samples as the main goal. The use of different analytical strategies, techniques and equipment is routine in archaeometry and new knowledge arises from chemical analyses only if accuracy of the measured quantity values is pursued and tested to enable metrological compatibility. The project will focus on the following spatially-resolved micro analytical techniques: - Laser Ablation-Induced Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS); - Micro-Proton Induced X-ray Emission spectroscopy (μ-PIXE); - Micro-X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (μ-XRF). New analytical strategies will be developed and/or cutting edge equipment will be employed to pursue the accurate quantitative determination of elements in objects from the archaeological heritage, namely: - Egyptian faience (glass coating); - South Italian Greek pottery (black gloss); - Carved lapis-lazuli (selected minerals). In the first step, mock-ups with known elemental composition will be prepared and used with Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) to develop new analytical protocols. In particular: 1. Properties of gold nanoparticles will be exploited to enhance performances of LA-ICPMS and pursue accuracy; 2. Metrological compatibility (and integration) of data from LA-ICPMS, μ-PIXE and μ-XRF will be tested; 3. Sustainability of the analytical protocols will be evaluated by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In the second step, thanks to the support of museums and other entities involved in conservation and enhancement of the archaeological heritage, selected sets of archaeological objects will be analyzed using the developed protocols. As preliminarily (or complementary) techniques, Optical Microscopy, Attenuated Total Reflection InfraRed spectroscopy (ATR-IR), Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca MUR - BANDO 2022 micro-Raman Spectroscopy, micro-Computed Tomography (μ-CT), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HI) will be employed to properly place the analytical spots or to support the interpretation of elemental data in a broader archaeometric perspective. The expected outcomes are: - new sensitive and accurate protocols for quantitative elemental analysis down to trace levels for Egyptian faience, South Italian Greek vases, archaeological carved lapis lazuli; - new accurate datasets of elemental composition for the considered archaeological materials; - new information on provenance and technology of production for the investigated archaeological objects; - carbon footprint of the analytical procedures (sustainability assessment). The main outcomes of the project will be disseminated among the various stakeholders involved in archaeometry and analytical chemistry, and communicated by means of public engagement events.