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Analysis of Coronado State Historic Site Artifacts using X-rays

Journal Article · · X-Ray Spectrometry, XRS
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/xrs.3350· OSTI ID:1983372
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  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Archeological Analysis and Graphics, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. New Mexico State Historic Sites, Santa Fe, NM (United States)
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Two historic-period metal artifacts were provided by the New Mexico Historic Sites to Los Alamos National Laboratory for non-destructive analysis. The artifacts were a crossbow quarrel (or bolthead) and a reliquary pendant recovered from Kuaua Pueblo (also known as the Coronado Historic Site) in Bernalillo, NM. The quarrel is a heavily patinated metal that had been flattened due to compressive forces. The pendant consisted of a metal casing that had previously surrounded two center gemstones on the front and rear face of the pendant. The gemstone in the rear setting had fractured and was displaced from the setting, leaving only a small, loose fragment within the pendant for study. The front gem appeared to be very dark, near-black in color, and the fragment of the rear gem was a bright red color. The artifacts were analyzed to ascertain their composition and glean insight into their provenance using the following X-ray techniques: X-ray computed tomography, confocal micro X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction. Infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy were used on selected areas. Ultraviolet Raman spectra were collected on the two gems and the pendant. The metal material of the artifacts was found to be primarily composed of copper. The gems in the pendant were composed of manganese (front gem) and calcium (side gem).

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001
OSTI ID:
1983372
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1983373; OSTI ID: 2426782
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-23-21163; 1097-4539 (Electronic)
Journal Information:
X-Ray Spectrometry, XRS, Vol. 53, Issue 1
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Investigation of the pigment use in the Tomb of the Reliefs and other tombs in the Etruscan Banditaccia Necropolis journal June 2018

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
artifacts
Coronado Historic Site
Kuaua Pueblo
New Mexico Historic Sites