Page 188 - 00. Complete Version - Progress Report IPEN 2014-2016

188 Nuclear Science and Technology | Progress Report

as relevant to analyze some of the fish most Nuclear and non-

consumed by the studied populations. The nuclear analytical
fish species chosen were: Lutjanus cyanopter- techniques applied to
us (Caranha) ,Leporinus fasciatus (Piau), Piar-
actus mesopotamicus (Pacú) and Colossoma archaeological studies.
macropomum (Tambaqui).The concentrations
obtained for the fish ranged from 29,56 ± 0,26 Classification of archaeological ceramics by
ng g-1 to 44,54 ± 0,67 ng g-1, which can be con- multi-elemental analysis generally consists
sidered as low, if compared to the standards es- of two steps: sampling and measurement of
tablished by the Brazilian legislation (ANVISA). many chemical elements with multi-elemen-
tal techniques, such as instrumental neutron
activation analysis. The first significant appli-
cation of activation analysis in archaeology
occurred in 1954, when Robert Oppenheimer
suggested to a colleague R.W. Dodson the pos-
sibility of using trace elements analysis via
NAA to establish the provenance of archeolog-
ical ceramics. The samples were irradiated in
a nuclear reactor and measured with a sodi-
um iodide detector coupled to a 100-channel
analyzer. The elements Mn and Na were de-
termined, and the results were expressed as
Fig 27. Preparation of fish samples from Natividade, ratios of 56Mn/24Na showing distinct differ-
in the state of Tocantins, for mercury analysis.
ences between ceramics from different regions,
but similar for samples from the same region.
The next major advancement occurred with
the modern detectors that greatly increased
the energy resolution of gamma rays relative
to the sodium iodide detector.

The more abundant and important artifacts
found in many areas worldwide are ceramics
which combine, in the most part, durability
with ubiquity. Today several analytical meth-
ods including the nuclear and non-nuclear an-
alytical methods are used for the study of the
characterization and the manufacturing of the
artifacts. From the chemical and physical anal-
yses, it is possible to infer information about
production centers, trade route identification,
raw material, object exchange, time scale, and
prehistoric people mobility patterns. This in-
formation is possible because differences in
Fig 28. Collection of hair samples of children liv-
ing in the state of Tocantins, for mercury analysis. chemical composition are typically interpreted

Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares