Investigation of mammoth remains using the neutron activation analysis at the Training Reactor VR-1
Result description
At the time when the importance of the interdisciplinary research increases, the nuclear analytical techniques supported by the small research reactors represent a useful tool for investigation of human society, culture, history etc. The historical, archaeological, and palaeontological samples and objects of cultural heritage can be easily studied using the radioanalytical methods such as the neutron activation analysis. This paper deals with the detailed investigation of fragments of mammoth remains from the Mid-Upper Palaeolithic site Pavlov VI by means of the instrumental neutron activation analysis at the Training Reactor VR-1 of the Czech Technical University in Prague. Six mammoth hard tissue samples (fragments of bones, tusk, and molar) from the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences were irradiated in the dry vertical irradiation channel with thermal neutron field (φ=2x109cm-2s-1) at maximum reactor power (80 W). The activated mammoth samples were analysed employing the nuclear γ-spectrometry and semiconductor HPGe detector, and the composition of the remains was determined (qualitative and quantitative analysis). The presence of Na, Cl, K, As, Fe, Sr, Mn, Br, I, Ba, and U was revealed in studied mammoth samples. Based on obtained production rates, the concentrations of Fe, Sr, Na, K, As, and U were determined. The results presented in this paper show clearly that the low-power Training Reactor VR-1 is excellent tool for the neutron activation analysis experiments within the interdisciplinary research and can provide experimental data important for archaeologists and palaeontologists.
Keywords
Radioanalytical methodNeutron activation techniqueFaunal remainsLate pleistoceneGravettianPalaeontological samplesNuclear reactorGamma-ray spectroscopyProduction rate
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
Alternative codes found
RIV/68081758:_____/20:00534973
Result on the web
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Investigation of mammoth remains using the neutron activation analysis at the Training Reactor VR-1
Original language description
At the time when the importance of the interdisciplinary research increases, the nuclear analytical techniques supported by the small research reactors represent a useful tool for investigation of human society, culture, history etc. The historical, archaeological, and palaeontological samples and objects of cultural heritage can be easily studied using the radioanalytical methods such as the neutron activation analysis. This paper deals with the detailed investigation of fragments of mammoth remains from the Mid-Upper Palaeolithic site Pavlov VI by means of the instrumental neutron activation analysis at the Training Reactor VR-1 of the Czech Technical University in Prague. Six mammoth hard tissue samples (fragments of bones, tusk, and molar) from the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences were irradiated in the dry vertical irradiation channel with thermal neutron field (φ=2x109cm-2s-1) at maximum reactor power (80 W). The activated mammoth samples were analysed employing the nuclear γ-spectrometry and semiconductor HPGe detector, and the composition of the remains was determined (qualitative and quantitative analysis). The presence of Na, Cl, K, As, Fe, Sr, Mn, Br, I, Ba, and U was revealed in studied mammoth samples. Based on obtained production rates, the concentrations of Fe, Sr, Na, K, As, and U were determined. The results presented in this paper show clearly that the low-power Training Reactor VR-1 is excellent tool for the neutron activation analysis experiments within the interdisciplinary research and can provide experimental data important for archaeologists and palaeontologists.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
Jimp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10301 - Atomic, molecular and chemical physics (physics of atoms and molecules including collision, interaction with radiation, magnetic resonances, Mössbauer effect)
Result continuities
Project
Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2020
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Applied Radiation and Isotopes
ISSN
0969-8043
e-ISSN
1872-9800
Volume of the periodical
166
Issue of the periodical within the volume
109292
Country of publishing house
GB - UNITED KINGDOM
Number of pages
7
Pages from-to
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UT code for WoS article
000589093400005
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85089540949
Basic information
Result type
Jimp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
OECD FORD
Atomic, molecular and chemical physics (physics of atoms and molecules including collision, interaction with radiation, magnetic resonances, Mössbauer effect)
Year of implementation
2020