Pittcon 2025: Highlighting Talks on Atomic Spectroscopy

At Pittcon this year, there will be numerous sessions dedicated to spotlighting the latest research that uses atomic spectroscopy or elemental analysis techniques. We highlight some of these talks below that might pique the interest of spectroscopists and researchers attending the conference this year.

On Sunday March 2, from 9:30 am to 11:40 am, there is a symposium titled “Around the World and Across the Spectrum: New Directions in Art and Archaeology Analysis Using Portable Devices.” Led by Mary Kate Donais, professor at Saint Anselm College, this symposium will highlight the latest advancements in portable instrumentation, with a focus on portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectroscopy (1). The symposium is designed to show how portable atomic spectroscopy instruments are helping unveil new insights into ancient artifacts, including artwork (1).

Molecular structures illuminated with a radiant glow in a vivid scientific representation of atomic interactions. Generated with AI. | Image Credit: © BYAI - stock.adobe.com

There will be four talks in this symposium. The first talk, which will take place from 9:30–10:00 am, will be delivered by Marcos Martinon-Torres, who is the Pitt-Rivers Professor of Archaeological Science at the University of Cambridge. His talk, titled “Reverse Engineering Archaeological Traditions Using Portable Devices: Chemical and Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Pre-Hispanic Ceramics from Nariño, Colombia,” will discuss how portable analytical instruments enhance archaeological research in the Andean region of Nariño, Colombia (2). As part of the REVERSEACTION project, researchers used portable XRF to analyze pastes and pigments in 160 pre-Hispanic ceramic vessels and a structured light 3D scanner to study their shapes (2). The talk will explain how by integrating elemental and morphological data, they identified shared traits, raw material sources, and individual potter practices (2). An important aspect to this talk is that Martinon-Torres will give his thoughts about the potential and challenges of this non-invasive approach, highlighting its role in characterizing ceramic traditions and advancing archaeological science in otherwise inaccessible locations and outlining how this approach may be used in future studies (2).

Next, Laure Dussubieux, a chemist at the Field Museum, will deliver a talk titled, “Portable XRF and Mobile Raman in Museum Environment.” This talk explores the impact of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) in archaeological science, highlighting its role in analyzing ancient materials at the Field Museum’s Elemental Analysis Facility (EAF) over the past 20 years (3). Recently, the EAF added a mobile Raman spectrometer to complement pXRF in identifying stone materials and pigments. The talk showcases various projects utilizing these techniques, discussing their advantages, limitations, and combined effectiveness. A key case study focuses on identifying pigments in a Roman fresco from Pompeii in the Field Museum’s collection, demonstrating how pXRF and Raman together enhance archaeological analysis (3).

Then, Aaron Shugar, the Bader Chair in Art Conservation at Queen’s University, will deliver a talk titled, “Development and Use of Portable XRF for Scanning Art and Archaeological Artifacts at Sub-Micron Resolution.” This talk discusses the advancements in scanning X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for art and archaeology. It highlights the development of handheld XRF for sub-micron resolution scanning, discussing collimator design and diffraction techniques to enhance photon exposure (4). Case studies from artworks and archaeological finds illustrate its applications, including potential in-situ field use (4).

Donais will conclude the symposium with her talk titled, “Portable Spectrometry Characterization of Etruscan Weaving Tools: Exploring Women's Roles, Migration, and Ceramic Production.” Donais’ talk will cover using portable spectroscopy to analyze over 500 spindle whorls from Poggio Civitate (Tuscany, Italy) to understand the role of women in Etruscan society (5). By examining color and elemental composition with a visible spectrophotometer and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, researchers identified unique chemical fingerprints linked to production workshops (5). Donais will also discuss how multivariate data analysis of color, composition, and geospatial data revealed insights into workshop distribution, trade, and social class migration (5).

References

1. Pittcon, Technical Program. Lab Science Events. Available at: https://labscievents.pittcon.org/event/pittcon-2025/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMjQ1MzgwNg== (accessed 2025-02-21).
2. Pittcon, Reverse Engineering Archaeological Traditions Using Portable Devices: Chemical and Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Pre-Hispanic Ceramics from Nariño, Colombia. Lab Science Events. Available at: https://labscievents.pittcon.org/event/pittcon-2025/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMjQ1MzgyMA== (accessed 2025-02-21).
3. Pittcon, Portable XRF and Mobile Raman in Museum Environment. Lab Science Events. Available at: https://labscievents.pittcon.org/event/pittcon-2025/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMjQ1Mzg4Ng== (accessed 2025-02-21).
4. Pittcon, Development and Use of Portable XRF for Scanning Art and Archaeological Artifacts at Sub-Micron Resolution. Lab Science Events. Available at: https://labscievents.pittcon.org/event/pittcon-2025/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMjQ1Mzg3Nw== (accessed 2025-02-21).
5. Pittcon, Portable Spectrometry Characterization of Etruscan Weaving Tools: Exploring Women's Roles, Migration, and Ceramic Production. Lab Science Events. Available at: https://labscievents.pittcon.org/event/pittcon-2025/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMjQ1MzgwNw== (accessed 2025-02-21).