The study of cultural heritage artefacts is important for understanding the past and where humanity has come from, however knowledge should not come at the cost of damaging or destroying an artefact. Examining artefacts using non-destructive methods enables us to gain knowledge, while protecting objects for future generations, and respecting the integrity and intrinsic value that the artefact has to its culture. The use of micro X-ray Fluorescence (μXRF) for studying cultural heritage artefacts is ideal, as it allows for rapid and repeatable analysis of composition, subtle surface features and assessing authenticity of objects (up to 33 x 17 cm and 5 kg), without sampling or physically altering the artefact.
Here the authors demonstrate how μXRF can be used to study a variety of artefacts of varying shapes and sizes from the Museum of Ancient Cultures at Macquarie University. These artefacts have specific challenges such as fragility, unique and sometimes mixed matrix’s, surface topography, variable sizes and corrosion. These factors need to be considered in designing experimental set up to conduct effective microanalytical studies using μXRF equipped with energy dispersive spectrometers.