A compositional study of the Porticello Bronzes by portable x-ray fluorescence and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

In this paper we report the results of a measurement campaign performed at the National Museum of Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria (Italy). Portable X-Ray Fluorescence and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy instrumentation allowed in situ analysis of several bronze fragments found on an ancient Greek ship sank at Porticello (Reggio Calabria) . The joint use of X-Ray Fluorescence and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy techniques allowed for a classification of the fragments according to their elemental composition. The fragments appear to belong at least to two different statues; although, in general, the compositional classification agrees well with the morphological analysis of the fragments, significant improvements with respect to previous classification emerge from the joint results of the two techniques used.