INAA of Aegaean pumices for the classification of archaeological findings

instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used to determine 29 el ements in pumice from several volcanic sources (Milos, Nisyros, Yali, Kos a nd Thera) in the Aegean Sea, Greece, to establish a data basis for the iden tification of pumice and tephra layers found in archaeological context. The widespread products of the "Minoan Eruption" of the Thera volcano can now be distinguished clearly from all other sources and will be used to establi sh a datumline in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in the second millenium B.C. The elements Al, As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu , Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Ta, Ti, Th, U, V, Yb and Zr were determined i n 14 samples from Miles, 25 samples from Nisyros, 7 samples from Yali, 7 sa mples from Kos and 17 samples from Thera. Two cycles of irradiation and fou r measurement runs were applied. The results were compared and suitable gro ups, typical for each island, were classified. Due to insufficiently compar able data sets, the criteria for distinguishing the different sources have not been revealed by previous studies. This basic knowledge was used to rel ate pumice from excavations in TelI-el-Dab'a (Egypt) and Bronze Age Knossos to their specific volcanic origin.