Elemental analysis of archaeological ochre: method and possibilities of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

(based on materials of Neolithic and Aeneolithic sites of the Middle Trans-Urals and Western Siberia)

Iudina E.A., Tonkushina M.O., Kulesh N.A., Ostroushko A.A. (Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation)

 The article is dedicated to methodological aspects of the elemental analysis (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy) of a natural mineral pigment — ochre. We chose oxide ochre obtained from the Neolithic and Aeneolithic sites of the taiga zone of Western Siberia and the Middle Urals (the end of VI — III millennium BC) as a source base. The questions of selection and preparation of archaeological samples, and of interpretive capabilities of the chosen approach are discussed in the article.

Key words: oxide ochre, natural mineral pigments, Neolithic Age, Aeneolithic Age, Western Siberia, Middle Trans-Urals, elemental analysis, XRF spectroscopy.

DOI: 10.20874/2071-0437-2016-34-3-021-034

19.09.2016

E.A. Iudina

Ural Federal University, Lenina prospect, 51, Ekaterinburg, 620083, Russian Federation

E-mail: kveten@gmail.com

M.O. Tonkushina

Ural Federal University, Kuibysheva st., 48, Ekaterinburg, 620026, Russian Federation,

E-mail: rita-zar@yandex.ru

N.A. Kulesh

Ural Federal University, Kuibysheva st., 48, Ekaterinburg, 620026, Russian Federation,

E-mail: nikita.kulesh@urfu.ru

A.A. Ostroushko

Ural Federal University, Kuibysheva st., 48, Ekaterinburg, 620026, Russian Federation,

E-mail: alexander.ostroushko@urfu.ru