SOIL PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS: A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR MEASUREMENT IN THE FIELD USING A TEST STRIP*

A new method for soil phosphate analysis has been developed for field measurement which will increase the applicability of phosphate mapping in archaeological prospection.     

THE ACCURACY OF THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF GOLD ALLOYS

Two possible sources of error in the measurement and interpretation of the specific gravities of gold coins are investigated. First, the effect of the presence of copper was measured and found to be more significant than previously thought. It is shown that the presence of 5% of copper in a gold-silver alloy results in a measured gold content which is 3.3% too low when the coin is analysed by the specific gravity method. Secondly, the importance of cleaning the coins before measuring the specific gravity is also demonstrated.     

OBSIDIAN HYDRATION DATING: AN IMPROVED OPTICAL TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OF THE HYDRATION RIM

A simple optical method is described that will enhance the color contrast between the outer birefringent hydration rind and the inner unhydrated core on obsidian thin sections used for hydration dating. The technique utilizes a gypsum nccessory plate. The gypsum plate rotates all incoming light by 550nm causing the black isotropic core of the nhsidian to become transparent first-order pink and interacting with the transmitted light from the birefringent rind, by either addition or subtraction. to produce a second-order blue or a first-order yellow color.     

A NEW METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE PROVENANCE OF WHITE MARBLES BY CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF INCLUSION FLUIDS: THE MARBLES OF THE MAUSOLEUM OF BELEVI/TURKEY*

A new method is presented in this paper to pinpoint the origin of white marbles using the chemical analysis of fluids occurring as micro-inclusions in calcitic or dolomitic marbles. Beside the conventional methods usually applied for this purpose, the analyses of significant anions and cations in fluids extracted from white marbles were used to characterize different types of marbles. Using this new approach it is possible to distinguish different groups of marbles which cannot be separated isotopically. A case study was performed on the mausoleum of Belevi, close to Ephesus in Turkey, and the quarries in the area of the mausoleum. The marbles used for the architecture of the mausoleum cannot be distinguished isotopically but were split into two groups when using fluid inclusion analysis. The corresponding quarry for the high-quality marble (cella walls, columns etc.) turned out to be the Kentli Çiftliği quarry, which also supplied the marbles for the classical Artemision. According to the chemical and fluid data it can be shown, however, that neither the adjacent famous antique quarry of Belevi nor the underground mine of Kusini, some 5 km away from the mausoleum, are the sources for the marbles used for the construction or decoration of the mausoleum.     

THE SUBTRACTION TECHNIQUE OF THERMOLUMINESCENT DATING

Combination of the routine approaches of thermoluminescence dating, the fine-grain and inclusion methods, allows an age to be determined that is independent of knowledge of the environmental dose-rate. This socalled subtraction technique is exampled by several terracottas of museum origin and some pottery collected from archaeological contexts without associated burial media. Age determination is estimated to have an accuracy of around ± 12%, in favourable conditions.     

INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT METALS*

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a relatively new analytical technique, growing in popularity, that offers many advantages over previously available instrumentation for the measurement of both the elemental and isotopic composition of metallic antiquities. The application of this method of analysis to archaeological metalwork is discussed and the technique compared with other methods of analysis commonly used in archaeometallurgy. Particular attention is drawn to the potential pitfalls and difficulties associated with ICP-MS and the need for extremely careful sample preparation and instrument operation.     

A LOW DILUTION,WAVELENGTH-DISPERSIVE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE PROCEDURE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL ROCK ARTEFACTS

A method is described for the analysis of archaeological rock artefacts which provides major and trace element data. Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) analysis of 2:1 fusion beads permits the accurate and precise measurement of a wide range of elements. Accuracy and precision are nominally 1-5% for elements having concentrations above 3 times the detection limit. The method requires a much smaller sample size than conventional WDXRF procedures and has been successfully used to characterise early millstones; a number of other applications in archaeology are suggested here.     

A FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL MODELING AND IMPACT ANALYSIS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY BY LARGE MUNICIPALITIES IN ONTARIO,CANADA*

ABSTRACT. We propose a mixed fixed and random coefficients framework for regional modeling. The framework allows the presence of both the region-specific effects and commonality of responses across regions. Bayes solutions for estimating parameters of interest and for generating predictions are derived. Within a Bayesian framework a predictive density approach to evaluate the impact of changes is suggested. We apply the methodology to evaluate the impact of new rate structures on Ontario regional demand for electricity.