The utilization of handheld portable XRF (HHpXRF) for the analysis of artifacts has been debated in the literature. In this study, the advantages and limitations of HHpXRF for ceramics were systematically characterized.  The factory calibration of a newly acquired Olympus Delta premium was optimized using 16 geological reference standards. Real world pottery samples present challenges as thickness, curvature, and surface texture can vary considerably between vessels. The effects of these variables on the accuracy and precision of the Delta were tested using samples prepared with five thicknesses, six curvatures, and five surface textures. Variations in measured concentrations of representative elements (Si, K, Fe, Rb, Zr) were found to be below 5% for the thickness study, below 10% for the curvature, and below 15% for the surface study. The variability was more pronounced for lighter elements (such as Si) than for heavier elements such as Rb. To investigate the cross comparability of HHpXRF instrument data, a set of neolithic ceramic sherds from China were measured using both an Innov-X alpha and an Olympus Delta Premium unit. Close agreement was observed for all significant elements measured using both instruments. These studies indicated that ceramic analysis using HHpXRF is both accurate and precise, if the instrument is properly calibrated with geological reference materials, and that variations in size, shape and texture will have minimal effects on pottery assemblage averages or in provenance studies.<br/>

Characterization of the advantages and limitations of the use of handheld x-ray fluorescence for the analysis of ceramics

251st National Meeting (2016)

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