X-ray fluorescence as a tool for investigating archaeological finds

X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRFA) is an outstanding method for investigations of various objects of historic and cultural significance, as it is non-destructive, can be used without any sampling of the analysed artefacts and, if necessary, measurements can be carried out in situ. The laboratory at CTU FNSPE is equipped for XRFA with radionuclides 55Fe, 238Pu and 241Am and with a small X-ray tube (30 kV) as excitation sources, and with Si(Li) and Si-PIN semiconductor spectrometers for detecting XRF spectra. This paper deals with XRFA of archaeological finds. Practical examples are selected from investigations of ceramic objects from excavations in the Czech Republic.