Optical Coherence Tomography for the non-invasive investigation of the microstructure of ancient Egyptian faience

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive subsurface 3D imaging technique based on the Michelson interferometer. The non-invasive nature of OCT and its speed of acquisition makes it possible to image large volumes of intact objects to yield a complete overview of the microstructure. The production methods for ancient Egyptian faience were first investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of the microstructure in polished sections and microprobe analysis of the composition of the glass phases. These studies were based on original Egyptian faience objects and laboratory reproductions of faience beads made using three different production methods. The microstructure of the same laboratory samples and the Egyptian faience objects from the British Museum Research Laboratory Collection are re-examined using OCT. It is found that OCT virtual cross-section images can be used to group ancient faience objects into three categories on the basis of the morphology of the surface glaze layer and the glaze/core interaction layer. The OCT images correspond well with SEM images of polished sections of ancient faience objects and laboratory reproductions. The virtual cross-sections produced by OCT are somewhat limited by the penetration depth, which is affected by the high absorption coefficient of the material and, therefore, cannot always provide information on the presence or absence of interparticle glass that binds together the quartz particles in the core. Nevertheless, the top two layers are well imaged and since OCT images can be obtained rapidly and without the necessity of removing a sample, the method can be applied to a very much wider range of ancient faience objects than is possible by SEM examination of polished cross-sections. In summary, this paper examines to what extent OCT can assist the investigation of the production techniques of ancient Egyptian faience.     

USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY TO EXAMINE THE SUBSURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF CHINESE GLAZES

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), a new method for ceramics research, is a nondestructive, three‐dimensional tomography system, which provides subsurface morphology visualization of samples based on the refractive index or dielectric constant differences in the target specimen. In this study, seven shards from different Chinese kilns of Song and Yuan dynasties (10–14th centuries) were scanned to visualize the subsurface morphology of their glazes. The images revealed unique phase assemblage modes in different samples. The results suggest OCT may be used to identify ceramics and provide information about their manufacturing technology.     

中国古代透闪石—阳起石玉器白化机制研究述要

出土透闪石—阳起石玉器呈现部分白化和全器白化现象,其时代涵盖史前至近代,地域跨越中国全境。目前白化动力成因研究颇为零散,迄今尚未从"面"上进行系统总结。为此,本研究拟从玉料加工成器之前的自然(风化)白化、玉料加工成器之后的加热白化和自然(受沁)白化等三方面对白化的性状特征和形成机制进行细致梳理和探讨,总结透闪石—阳起石玉火烧变白过程的热力学机制,探讨自然成因的多样形式以及不同形式的内在白化机制,藉此有助于判断和揭示白化玉器背后的人类行为和自然行为。     

中国古代蛇纹石玉的白化机制研究述要

蛇纹石玉是中国传统玉文化的重要物质载体,与透闪石-阳起石玉相似,许多出土蛇纹石玉呈现部分白化和全器白化现象,其时代贯穿史前至近代,地域跨越中国全境,因而其成因颇受关注。本工作借助考古学、矿物学和材料学等相关研究成果,从人为火烧成因和自然受沁成因两方面对白化的性状特征和形成机制进行细致梳理和探讨,以期探明蛇纹石玉火烧变白过程的热力学机制,探讨自然受沁成因的内在白化机制。藉此有助于判断和揭示白化玉器背后的人类行为和自然行为,有益于白化蛇纹石玉器的科学保护。     

Gyptis: Sailing Replica of a 6th‐century‐BC Archaic Greek Sewn Boat

A sailing replica based on the archaeological remains and structural analysis of the 6th‐century archaic Greek sewn boat Jules‐Verne 9 was built in Marseille as part of the city's European Capital of Culture 2013 programme. Full‐scale reconstruction allowed investigation of specific aspects of the methods used to build a shell‐first, sewn‐plank, and lashed‐frame vessel, as well as learning the gestures and know‐how of the original shipbuilders. The first two seasons of sailing trials, including short journeys in the Bay of Marseille and longer, coast‐hopping expeditions, reflecting the uses of the original vessel have taken place and are reported here.     

甘肃肃北马鬃山玉矿遗址2011年发掘简报

马鬃山玉矿遗址位于甘肃省肃北县马鬃山镇西北约22公里的河盐湖径保尔草场。2011年10～11月,甘肃省文物考古研究所对该遗址进行了调查和发掘,调查确定遗址面积约5平方公里,发掘面积为150平方米,清理的遗迹有矿坑、防御性建筑、作坊、灰坑,出土陶器、石器、金属器、玉料及毛坯等200余件。从发掘资料看,遗址的年代下限为汉代,是目前在西北地区发现的年代最早的玉矿遗址。此次发掘为研究骗马文化提供了新资料,出土的玉矿原料为研究马鬃山玉矿的矿物成分、矿藏成因等提供了重要的实物资料。     

江西南昌交大明墓出土部分金玉器特征研究

本文运用宝石学和物理镨学的理论和方法,通过肉眼和宝石显微镜观察、红外吸收光谱、激光拉曼光谱、环境扫描电子显微镜和贵金属含量检测仪等大型仪器测试,对江西南昌市新建县华东交通大学校园内发掘出土的一件玉圭、两组玉组佩、五枚金镶宝玉石戒指和一枚金钗的材质成分作了科学鉴定。鉴定结果表明两种玉器的玉质成分是软玉,戒指的戒面有绿松石、蓝宝石和尖晶石,金钗的黄金含量为96.75%,而戒指金托的黄金含量仅为78.24%。从而提高了出土金玉器研究的科技含量。     

越国玉器的等级研究

越国贵族墓葬以墓葬规模为指示性要素,可分为五个等级,以此作为越国玉器等级研究的基础,结合玉器器类组合和器形纹饰的分析,可将越国玉器分为七个等级。越国玉器的等级研究为复杂的越国社会形态研究提供了新的途径和方法。     

Never Judge A Gold Object by Its Surface Analysis: A Study of Surface Phenomena in a Selection of Gold Objects From the Staffordshire Hoard

With the introduction of commercially available handheld XRF analysers, there is a growing problem that the results, simply taken at face value, are regarded as representative of the bulk gold alloys of the objects analysed in museums and used for treasure analysis. It is well known that surface analysis is problematic, and the aim of this study was to test whether non‐destructive surface analysis could be useful in grouping the very large numbers of fragmentary pieces in the Anglo‐Saxon Staffordshire Hoard. Surface and subsurface analyses of 16 objects from the Hoard were carried out by X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (SEM–EDX). The results indicate that there are significant but inconsistent levels of enrichment of the gold at the surface of many of these objects, due to the loss of both copper and silver. The significant loss of silver (up to 50% relative in some cases) suggests that some form of deliberately induced depletion gilding was carried out during manufacture to remove both silver and copper from the surface. In three cases, an increase in silver at the surface compared to the core metal was detected: this might tentatively be explained by redeposition from contact with silver objects during burial. These results have clear implications for the reliability and interpretation of surface analysis data of gold alloys from this period.     

横岭山商周时期玉器的质地、白化现象和玉料产地研究

为研究广东博罗横岭山商周时期墓地出土玉器的质地、白化现象和玉料产地,对玉料样品进行常规矿物学、红外光谱、X射线粉晶衍射、扫描电镜和拉曼光谱的测试。结果显示,该墓地出土玉器的材质包括石英、水晶、透闪石（软玉）和杂砂岩。其中,透闪石质的玉器呈白色、不透明的外观,被认为和酸性土壤的腐蚀有关;出土的石英质玉器（含水晶器）的包裹体特征及包裹体均一温度显示该墓地出土的石英质玉器（含水晶器）的玉料较可能来自变质石英岩。伟晶岩或高温石英脉,将其与博罗本地、台山地区（近环珠江口地区）的石英及水晶样品进行对比,未有证据显示该墓地出土的石英质玉器（含水晶器）的原料来自上述地区。本研究可为揭示商周时期珠江三角洲地区的先民对自然资源的认识和利用能力以及当时社会的生产力水平、物品交换及贸易路线等方面提供基础科学依据。     

曾侯乙墓出土古玉器碎片玉质成分研究

运用岩石学和宝玉石学理论和方法,采用宝石学特征肉眼鉴定、偏光显微镜鉴定、红外吸收光谱和激光拉曼光谱测试以及全岩化学分析测试手段,对曾侯乙墓出土的三件古玉器碎片进行了系统鉴定,表明这三件外观特征有所不同的玉器的玉质成分都是透闪石质软玉.     

金玉同盟——东周金器和玉器之装饰风格与角色演变

除了延续自前代的风格传统与工艺技术外,东周玉器与源自于他类材质器物的启发关系尤其密切,其中金器扮演了关键性的角色。东周金器对玉器装饰风格的影响,主要表现在纹饰布局、纹饰母题以及追求浮雕的空间表现等几个方面。此时玉器和金器在风格上的相互转换与兴替消长,不仅导致金玉材质间的相互置换,更重要的是,它们的装饰形式也因应被模仿对象的材质特性而改头换面,并且发展出新的审美价值和象征意蕴。     

Complex raw materials and the supply system: Mineralogical and geochemical study of the jade artefacts of the Longshan Culture (2400–2000 bce) from Sujiacun site in coastal Shandong,China

X‐ray fluorescence (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy were employed to analyse the chemical compositions and phase structures of nine pieces of jade artefacts unearthed from Sujiacun, a Longshan Culture (2400–2000 bce ) site in coastal Shandong, eastern China. The results of the analyses indicated these samples were primarily made from multiple raw mineral materials, including antigorite, actinolite, clinochlore, turquoise and muscovite. No nephrite was recovered from the Sujiacun site. This is strikingly different from other top‐ranking settlements of Longshan Culture, such as Dantu, Liangchengzhen and Xizhufeng, in which nephrite was the main material of jade artefacts. This may reflect the distinctions in the supply system of jade raw materials among different rankings of Longshan period sites. In addition, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) was used to analyse the composition of the rare earth elements of serpentine jade. These preliminary results were compared with published data on the composition of serpentine jade and it was found that the Sujiacun serpentine jade artefacts were likely sourced from the Taishan jade deposit.     

河北定州商墓出土玉器光学无损分析

为充分获取河北定州商墓出土玉器的物质信息,利用X射线荧光光谱分析(XRF)、X射线衍射分析(XRD)、激光拉曼光谱分析(Raman)等无损光学技术手段对玉器进行科学分析。获得玉器成分、矿相和结构等信息,研讨其质地和来源。从而探究先民的玉料来源、制玉技术、文化发展与文明互动交流诸方面问题。进一步探讨当时的生产力、社会发展水平,经济组织形态以及拥有这批玉器的人群在当时背景下的发展程度。研究结果对进一步研究河北地区的商代社会有参考价值。     

虢国墓地出土玉器的六端与六器

上世纪五十年代和九十年代,三门峡上村岭虢国墓地的发现与发掘,在中外学术界、考古界引起了极大的轰动,尤其是上村岭虢国墓地出土的几千件（套）玉器以其精美绝伦的工艺和巧夺天工的制作,震惊了世界,被誉为二十世纪最伟大的发现之一。     

琉璃河西周燕国墓地出土玉器初探

本文在对琉璃河西周燕国墓地玉器进行考古学研究的基础上,结合文献,对西周燕国玉器的使用制度进行了分析考证,认为燕国在西周早期,以组玉佩和葬玉为代表的与礼制相符的用玉制度已见端倪,在中国玉器发展史上占有重要地位。     

透闪石玉物相构成及沁蚀演化机理新解

中国是世界上玉文化源远流长的地区,随着玉文化研究的深入和玉学的兴起,玉石的物相构成及受沁演化机理成为学界和出土古玉鉴定中的重要问题。由于埋藏环境的作用,许多玉器出土时的面貌和成分结构已发生很大改变。本研究运用扫描电子显微镜及能谱仪(SEM-EDX)、显微激光拉曼光谱仪(MLRM)和傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)等分析设备,对湖北省京山市苏家垄遗址春秋时期M88号墓棺内出土的4件玉器残片以及1件现代透闪石玉原石开展比较研究。研究确认透闪石玉中除了纤维状的矿物成分,还包含玻璃相的高级脂肪酸盐,分布于晶界及晶体间隙的玻璃相脂肪酸盐在玉石晶链间形成缓冲,使透闪石玉具有较高的韧性,不易崩碎。当腐蚀发生时,脂肪酸盐会变质分解溶出,部分会在玉石裂隙及疏松处富集并吸附其他物质,致使玉石受沁。脂肪酸盐大量流失后,透闪石玉晶链因失去缓冲而极易碎裂。此时,链状结构中Ca-O键和Fe-O键因强度低于Mg-O键而优先断裂流失,使得玉石内阳起石结构减少,外观由半透明向不透明转变,甚至白化。关于古代玉石中脂肪酸盐来源及其对玉石影响的研究,为古玉研究开拓了新的途径。     

Eighteenth‐Century Meissen Porcelain Reference Data Obtained By Proton‐Beam Analysis (PIXE–PIGE)

Prior to their restoration, the porcelain bodies of broken pieces from 31 authentic Meissen objects of the early 18th century were investigated by proton‐beam analysis. Attention was paid so that the proton beam probed only the bare porcelain paste areas of fractures. Thus, contributions to the measured X‐ray and γ‐ray spectra from adjacent surface glaze were prevented. The chemical compositions, obtained by simultaneous detection of elements with Z ≥ 13 (X‐rays) and lighter elements Z ≤ 14 (γ‐rays), represent rather consistent mixtures of paste ingredients. This result highlights the durable recipes and raw materials used in early Meissen porcelain production in the years 1725–50. Mean concentration values of element oxides, deduced from the detailed measurements, prove suitable for use as a database for Meissen porcelain paste identification. Material authentication of intact objects, without access to the bare porcelain body, is demonstrated by inspection of the white glaze. Unique museum objects are examined in atmosphere and without sampling. A low proton‐beam intensity and a short irradiation time ensure non‐destructive analysis. Simultaneous radiation and backscattered particle detection allow complete composition analysis, using the established ion beam techniques of particle‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE), particle‐induced gamma‐ray emission (PIGE) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS).     

The risk of harm to archaeological artefacts in soil from dynamic subsurface pressures generated by agricultural operations: experimental studies

An investigation was made of the fracture risk to buried ceramic pots and bones from the subsurface pressures generated by agricultural operations. A method for generating subsurface pressures at 0.25 m depth in a soil bin was developed and used to explore fracture failure of modern replicates of ceramic pots corresponding to different archaeological periods and aged medieval human bone. Application of conductive traces to the objects’ surfaces allowed detection of fracturing in real‐time without excavation. Predictive models relating fracture of objects to subsurface pressure application were developed by relating the probability of fracture to observed survival statistics at increasing subsurface pressures. Subsurface pressures of above 100 kPa were sufficient to fracture the more fragile pots at a probability level of 90%. The lowest subsurface pressure causing bone fracture was 280 kPa; however, no relationship was observed between subsurface pressure and bone fracture, probably due to variation in bone material. The subsurface pressures generated and applied are within the range reported from field measurements during typical agricultural operations. They indicate that measures to control the generation of subsurface pressures would be necessary to mitigate risk of harm from agriculture to buried archaeology; for example, via low‐pressure tyres, tracks and appropriate tillage.     

江苏徐州小长山汉墓M4发掘简报

小长山汉墓群为徐州地区一重要的汉墓群。2008年9月发现并发掘的M4为其中较为重要的,虽然被盗掘,仍出土8件精美的玉器,包括玉枕、双层玉面罩、玉塞、玉蝉、青玉璧等,尤其是双层玉面罩的发现,在徐州乃至全国尚属首次,不仅增加了面罩的新类型,而且解释了面罩结构方面的一些问题。