Elemental Fingerprinting via X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
Title: The Use of X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis Technique in the Investigation of Cultural Assets
Context: Presented at the International Istanbul Historical Peninsula Symposium (2013).
Key Collaboration: Analytical data generated under the leadership of Dr. Asiye Başaşı (TAEK-ÇNAEM) in coordination with the Directorate of Istanbul Central Laboratory of Restoration and Conservation.
This research underscores the critical importance of nuclear analytical techniques, specifically X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), in the scientific classification, protection, and authentication of cultural heritage. As an essential tool for “Forensic Conservation,” XRF allows for a non-destructive yet high-precision chemical characterization of diverse materials including metals, ceramics, and stone.
Non-Destructive Elemental Analysis: By utilizing both WDXRF (Wavelength Dispersive) and portable EDXRF (Energy Dispersive) spectrometers, the study achieved quantitative and qualitative data on artifacts ranging from the Byzantine era to the Ottoman period.
Numismatic & Metallurgical Insights: The study presents detailed elemental breakdowns of Byzantine coins, historical crosses, and Ottoman weight units. For instance, WDXRF analysis of a Byzantine coin revealed a complex alloy primarily composed of copper (52.2%) with significant lead and sulfur content, providing data on historical minting technologies.
Urartian Metalwork: A specialized study on Urartian belts, fibulae, and bracelets identified precise ratios of copper, tin, and zinc, offering a metallurgical “DNA” that can be used as a reference for authenticity and provenance studies.
Strategic Database Development: The research advocates for the creation of regional elemental databases. Such archives are vital for cross-referencing newly discovered artifacts against established museum collections to detect smuggling or modern forgeries.
This publication is the result of a strategic partnership between the nuclear sciences and conservation fields. While Uğur Genç leads the authorship as the primary coordinator of the conservation-restoration workflow, the technical analytical framework was meticulously spearheaded by Dr. Asiye Başsarı and her team at TAEK. This collaborative structure reflects the interdisciplinary synergy required to transform raw nuclear data into actionable historical knowledge.
Genç, U., Başsarı, A. ve Ekinci, Ş. (2013). “Kültür Varlıklarının İncelenmesinde X-Işını Floresans Analiz Tekniğinin Kullanımı”, Uluslararası İstanbul Tarihi Yarımada Sempozyumu, I. Tarihi Yarımada Deneysel Araştırmalar Çalıştayı, 1-3 Ekim, İSTYAM, İstanbul,77-82.