IBA analyses of Roman glass finds from Danubius and Pontus Euxinus (Metadata RADIATE TA Proposal 23003252-ST)

Proposal title "IBA analyses of Roman glass finds from Danubius and Pontus Euxinus". Measurements carried out at the external beam set-up for cultural heritage of the INFN LABEC accelerator laboratory, from 22 till 26 May 2023. Hands-on mode. PIXE-PIGE measurements suing a 3 MeV proton beam extracted through a Si3N4 window into ambient pressure were performed on 121 glass fragments from four archaeological sites (Histria, Tomis, Beroe and Capidava) located in present days Romania. Two SDD detectors were used for the measurement of characteristic X-rays, and a HPGe detector was employed for the quantitative analysis of the prompt gamma rays emitted by 23Na nuclei. All these archaeological sites were settlements from the same province of the Roman Empire, first known as Moesia Inferior, later as Scythia Minor. Chronologically speaking, glass fragments cover a broad spectrum, including samples from both the Early Roman period (1st-3rd c. AD), and also from the Late Roman period (4th-6th c. AD). Most of the archaeological material was attributed to the latter chronological frame. Determining the chemical composition of a large number of glass items from these four archaeological sites represents a great opportunity to obtain relevant information regarding the evolution in glass trade and consumption in this province during the Roman and Late Antique periods. All measurements were made on tiny areas polished with SiC paper before the experiment, cleaning made to ensure the determination of the pristine glass composition. Several certified reference materials (glass standards NIST 610, NIST 1412, NIST 621, NIST 620, NIST 93a, NIST 1411 and BCR 126A, and high-purity metal foils) were measured as well, to assess the accuracy of the results.