Halûk Perk Müzesi İlk Tunç Çağ Metal Buluntularının Taşınabilir XRF Cihazları İle Karşılaştırmalı İncelenmesi

Beyond the Black Box: A Comparative Forensic Audit of P-XRF Calibrations in Bronze Age Metallurgy

Title: The Comparative Examinations of the Halûk Perk Museum Early Bronze Age Foundlings with Portable XRF Devices
Authors: Uğur GENÇ, Tuğçe PAMUK, Sinem KIRGİ
Publication: The Anatolian Early Bronze Age Collective Foundling, Halûk Perk Museum Publications
Year: 2014

The Forensic Story

Analytical Integrity: A Comparative Study of Device Calibration

Following the prestigious invitation from Prof. Dr. Önder Bilgi, this research provides an elemental biography of 118 metallic artifacts. Beyond mere documentation, this study serves as a methodological audit of portable analytical technologies. By comparing the data from two different P-XRF devices with distinct calibration settings, we demonstrated how the ‘black box’ of technology can yield divergent results.

The investigation highlights a critical forensic trap: how a device without a pre-defined element library can misinterpret ‘Arsenic’ as ‘Iridium’ in its attempt to complete the elemental spectrum to 100%. This research proves that analytical data is not an absolute truth but a variable that must be governed by the expertise of the scientist.

Key Highlights & Impact:

The Calibration Trap: Proving that device configuration—specifically LOD (Limit of Detection) values and element libraries—drastically affects the authenticity of the data.

Arsenic vs. Iridium Phenomenon: Documenting how calibration mismatches can lead to the false identification of rare elements, potentially misleading archaeological history.

Protocol for Precision: Establishing a requirement for ‘pre-analytical period knowledge’ before configuring devices for archaeological field use.

Verification through Comparison: Utilizing two-device cross-referencing as a forensic necessity to ensure the chemical characterization of Early Bronze Age metallurgy is accurate and verifiable.

“A device is only as intelligent as its calibration. This study reveals that without a forensic understanding of ancient metallurgy, portable XRF data risks becoming ‘information pollution’ rather than scientific truth.”

Citation

Genç, U., Pamuk, T., & Kırgi, S. (2014). “The Comparative Examinations of the Halûk Perk Museum Early Bronze Age Foundlings with Portable XRF Devices” (Halûk Perk Müzesi İlk Tunç Çağ Metal Buluntularının Taşınabilir XRF Cihazları İle Karşılaştırmalı İncelenmesi). The Anatolian Early Bronze Age Collective Foundling, Halûk Perk Museum Publications, Istanbul, pp. 130-139.

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