In addition to obsidian, what kind of other lithic materials can be characterized using XRF analysis?
• Does XRF analysis make samples radioactive? No. Samples may be safely handled immediately after analysis. • How do you assign sources to the analyzed artifacts? We assign geologic sources to analyzed artifacts by correlating the artifact with sources contained in our source reference database. This database currently contains data for over 100,000 analyzed source samples and artifacts and is continually updated with additional sample trace element data. Alternative correlation methods that are sometimes also used in provenience studies also include statistical techniques (cluster and principal components analysis) and graphical methods (bivariate scatterplots or ternary diagrams, for example). The visual appearance of the artifact may also be occasionally used to verify or reject an artifact source, although we never rely on visual methods except in a minor way. For more information about our correlation methods, click here. • What does it mean when there’s an unknown source assignme
