ACCELERATOR-BASED ANALYSIS OF GOLD JEWELRY ITEMS AND EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Any method for the analysis of archaeological material requires to be quantitative, accurate, reliable, topographical, but mainly non destru ctive and then suitable to give the chemical composition of different parts of the artefact without any sampling, even at microscopic level. PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) and PIGE (Particle Induced Gam ma-ray Emission), used especially with the objects under investigation at atmospheric pressure, possess most of the required qualities for m edium and high Z elements. RES (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry ) and NRA (Nuclear Reaction Analysis) suitable to study heavy and ligh t elements respectively are complementary techniques for sample suppor ting to be introduced in the vacuum. In a microprobe assembly, narrow topographical investigations may be undertaken (beam diameter less tha n 3 mu m). We present a general view of the goldsmith's workmanship in various regions of the world (Mesopotamia, Greece, Italy, Mesoamerica ). Recipes reported in old metallurgical handbooks have also been repr oduced in order to check the actual conditions in which they could hav e been performed in the past. Test analyses to differenciate modern or repaired items from genuine artefacts are discussed as well.