Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

This book focuses on the application of portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy to both the skeletal remains and the surrounding burial environment of thirteen bog bodies; twelve from raised bogs, and one from a fen bog. Portable XRF Spectroscopy can help to determine the difference between the diagenetic effects of a raised bog compared to a fen bog, and to identify whether housing curators and staff applied post-discovery preservation procedures to bog bodies. Various elements were analyzed from the bone and/or teeth of the bog bodies, and soil from their finding sites. Portable XRF Spectroscopy helps to provide information regarding the interaction between the bog environment and the remains of bog bodies. By assisting in the identification of post-discovery preservation sites on the bog bodies, portable XRF Spectroscopy can improve comprehension of archival collection history of bog bodies, and can offer the possibility of reversing or lessening the effects of detrimental preservative treatments to the bog bodies.