Analysis of ancient pottery using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA)

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been utilized in the analysis of thirty-seven and thirty three archaeological ceramics fragment samples from Tal Al-Wardiate site, Missiaf town, Hamma city, and from Damascus Castle site, Damascus, Syria respectively. 36 chemical elements were determined. These elemental concentrations have been processed using two multivariate statistical methods to determine similarities and correlation between the various samples. Factor analysis confirms that samples of Tal Al-Wardiate were correctly classified by cluster analysis, and 84% of the samples from Damascus Castle site were correctly classified by cluster analysis. The results showed that samples of Tal Al-wardiate can be considered to be manufactured using three different sources of raw materials, and the samples of Damascus Castle can be considered to be manufactured using at least five different sources of raw materials. (author)