pXRF spectrometry in the geoarchaeological analysis of archaeological deposits : optimizing laboratory methods and protocols

Prijatelj, Agni (author), Golob, Nejc (author), Kastelec, Damijana (author), Gruškovnjak, Luka (author), Vojaković, Petra (author), Grahek, Lucija (author), Črešnar, Matija (author), Grčman, Helena (author)

Portable X­ray f luorescence (pXRF) spectrometry is widely employed in the geoarchaeo­logical analysis of archaeological deposits. However, the preparation methods and laboratory protocols used remain diverse, with established standards frequently disregarded. In this study, we examine the effects of grinding on the precision of mean analyte concentrations and evaluate the suitability of differ­ent factory calibrations and their associated measurement modes for geoarchaeological applications. Using a set of samples from the f loor of a prehistoric smithy rich in microrefuse, we explore site­specific calibration standards, the relationship between the number of measurements and precision, and assess how precision affects the interpretation of spatial datasets. Based on our findings, we offer a series of recommendations for geoarchaeologists analysing large datasets with pXRF spectrometry

• Language: English
• Keywords: pXRF spectrometry, geoarchaeology, archaeological deposits, house floor and microre­fuse, sample preparation methods
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty; FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 2-23
• Numbering: Letn. 53
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-181445
• UDC: 903
• ISSN on article: 1408-967X
• DOI: 10.4312/dp.53.1
• COBISS.SI-ID: 274469379
• Publication date in RUL: 08.04.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Documenta Praehistorica
• Shortened title: Doc. Praehistor.
• Publisher: Oddelek za arheologijo Filozofske fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani, Oddelek za arheologijo Filozofske fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1408-967X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 98765312

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Prenosna rentgenska fluorescenčna spektrometrija (pXRF) v geoarheoloških preiskavah arheoloških depozitov: optimizacija laboratorijskih metod in protokolov
• Keywords: prenosna rentgenska fluorescenčna spektrometrija (pXRF), geoarheologija, arhe­ološki depoziti, hišni tlak in mikroodpad, metode priprave vzorcev