Microbeam applications in archaeology

The paper concerns the use of focused high-energy ion microprobes in archaeology. A description is given of the advantages and limitations of these probes for archaeological material. A review of the archaeological applications of ion microbeams is presented, and includes studies of:- papers of historical documents, bones and teeth, clays and sherds, glasses and obsidians, iron and copper-based alloys, and silver and gold. Of these topics, documents and jewellery are treated the most successfully by the microprobe technique. (UK)