XRF ANALYSIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BRONZES

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis by portable or mobile spectrometers has long been applied to the study of archaeological and historical bronzes; although not sufficient to provide all necessary information - a reasonably complete characterisation of materials and deterioration products may require the use of other techniques, such as atomic spectroscopy (AAS, ICP-OES, LIBS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDXA), x-ray diffraction (XRD) - this technique is essential for a rapid non-destructive identification of the constituent materials with all the implications that this may have on fabrication technology, previous restorations, authenticity, etc. This paper describes a few case studies concerned with the use of portable XRF equipment, in which the mainstay of the investigation relies on sensitivity, that allows for a nondestructive classification of materials based on both major and minor elements. The case studies concern: 1) composition-dependent corrosion in a hoard of Roman imperial coins, 2) the evidence of re-use in a group of proto-historical bronze knives; 3) chromatic effects on the Hellenistic bronze statue of the "Boxer" and 4) the simultaneous use of XRF and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in a group of fragments from bronze statues.