Interdisciplinary methodology for the characterisation of archaeological metal grave goods from the Museum of Patagonia by PIXE, DRX, and SEM/EDS

Abstract

We present a study of a selection of metal ornaments belonging toarchaeological funerary goods from Patagonic indigenous groups. Theyare part of the "Andrés Giai" Collection, under the guard of the Museumof Patagonia (Nahuel Huapi National Park -PNNH-; National ParksAdministration -APN-), Argentina. The absence of contextual informationand its current conservation status motivated the design of aninterdisciplinary methodology to develop an Integral Conservation Planthat considered the selection of analytical techniques. Here weimplemented complementary non-destructive characterisationtechniques such as Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), X-rayDiffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with EnergyDispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). We proposed a methodologythat allowed us to characterise each piece in terms of metalliccomposition and degradation products, and in some cases, theirmanufacturing process. These results contributed with essentialinformation for the tailored conservation treatment proposal. Moreover,they contributed to the reconstruction of contextual information,providing valuable data to attribute temporal context to each piece. Inaddition, the methodology proposed for the Integral Conservation Plantakes into account an optimisation of the techniques to be used in orderto minimise unnecessary handling of goods while ensuring good use oftechnological and economic resources without wasting time onmeasurements that might not provide the information needed.