University of Oulu

Ikäheimo, J., Riihimäki, M. & Kaakinen, M. 2022. Provenancing Archaeological Chert Finds with pXRF: Initial Results from the Eastern Coast of the Bothnian Bay. Fennoscandia archaeologica XXXIX: 57–75.

Provenancing archaeological chert finds with pXRF : initial results from the eastern coast of the Bothnian Bay

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Author: Ikäheimo, Janne1; Riihimäki, Markus2; Kaakinen, Markus1
Organizations: 1Archaeology, P.O. Box 1000, 90014 University of Oulu, Finland
2Centre for Material Analysis, P.O. Box 7150, 90014 University of Oulu, Finland
Format: article
Version: published version
Access: open
Online Access: PDF Full Text (PDF, 0.8 MB)
Persistent link: http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi-fe202301317817
Language: English
Published: Suomen arkeologinen seura, 2022
Publish Date: 2023-01-31
Description:

Abstract

We present the initial results of a research combining non-destructive chemical analyses with a quantitatively and chronologically representative research assemblage — 52 specimens from five sites — to examine the provenance of Late Neolithic and Bronze Age chert finds from the cluster of sites located near the city of Oulu on the eastern coast of the Bothnian Bay. The results confirm the previously observed transition in the use of raw material sources: eastern Carboniferous cherts high in iron were replaced by calcium-rich Cretaceous flints of Scandinavian or southern Baltic origin. We also consider the overall applicability of pXRF as a non-destructive research method to determine the provenance for archaeological chert finds recovered from the coniferous boreal zone, characterized by the impact of post-depositional weathering on the chemical composition of objects found in the soil matrix.

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Series: Fennoscandia archaeologica
ISSN: 0781-7126
ISSN-L: 0781-7126
Volume: XXXIX
Pages: 57 - 75
Type of Publication: A1 Journal article – refereed
Field of Science: 116 Chemical sciences
1171 Geosciences
615 History and archaeology
Subjects:
Copyright information: © 2022 Fennoscandia archaeologica.