SEM-EDS and chemical-archaeological soil analysis: a synergistic interpretation of data

Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) is one of the most versatile analytical techniques in archaeology, applicable to the study of a wide range of inorganic and organic artefacts and archaeological materials. SEM imaging and analysis is experiencing a renaissance in all fields of archaeological studies: many researchers use this technique to analyze rocks, minerals and sub-millimetre-sized fragments samples with only minimal damage. Layers of mineral-based pigments and plasters can also be studied with an electron beam that can be focused to microscopic sizes as also a wide variety of biological materials ex. pollen (Pilcher 1968). This continues to be a popular application, especially to reconstruct the vegetation history and/or the paleo-climate of a region. Teeth and bone are, also, frequently examined by SEM-EDS to study diagenesis pathologies, and other phenomena. In this work was evaluated the soil composition of some archaeological soil obtained by using this technique correlating results with chemical soil analyses and analyses of artefacts found in the stratigraphic unity. Results obtained showed a good connection between all data confirming the uniqueness of the excavation.