Development of resonant laser mass spectrometry for organic trace analysis in archaeometry

考古学中有机痕量分析的共振激光质谱法的发展

• 批准号: 1018804
• 负责人: Mattanjah de Vries
• 金额: $ 22.22万
• 依托单位: University of California-Santa Barbara
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-08-15 至 2014-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1018804&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Development; resonant; laser; mass; spectrometry

With National Science Foundation support, Dr. Mattanjah de Vries and Dr. Stuart Tyson-Smith and their graduate students will develop a technique for organic tracer molecule analysis for archaeometry. Their novel approach is based on a specialized form of laser mass spectrometry or LMS. In the vast arsenal of powerful analytical chemical techniques that are routinely used in archaeometry, the majority is particularly suited to elemental analysis. On the other hand, analysis of organic compounds in archeological samples is more challenging, generally requiring combinations of techniques and often yielding less specific identifications. The LMS technique will address these problems by combining the selectivity of resonant laser spectroscopy with the sensitivity of mass spectrometry. As a result LMS is simultaneously highly specific and sensitive. The ability to detect and identify organic compounds in archeological samples is highly desirable because many types of samples can be uniquely characterized based on their organic molecular composition. Examples include food residues in pottery, affording a glimpse into what people ate or drank, resins, revealing materials used for incense, or dyes from which we can learn details on ancient coloring and manufacturing techniques as well as sources of materials and their trade routes. This project is interdisciplinary in nature, as the group of Dr. de Vries in the Department of Chemistry and biochemistry at UCSB is teaming up with the group of Dr. Tyson-Smith in the Department of Anthropology at the same university. The primary goals in this pilot study are to optimize the technique, to develop a catalogue of tracer compounds for archaeometric use, and to work with researchers in the field to facilitate further practical development of applications of the technique. The unique combination of state of the art physical chemistry techniques with topics related to anthropology and archaeology is particularly suitable for educational projects. In addition to training graduate and postgraduate students, the research will involve undergraduate students as well as high school students, in the framework of UCSB sponsored outreach programs to minority students and high schools. In an additional collaboration students will participate from Jackson State University, a historically black college. Material from this research will also be shared with the Bay Area Museum-School Online Science Learning Collaboratory Pilot Project. In a broader sense, the ability to characterize ancient materials that were previously inaccessible to such analysis will open new windows to insights in our history and culture.

在国家科学基金会的支持下，Matanjah de Vries 博士和 Stuart Tyson-Smith 博士及其研究生将开发一种用于考古学有机示踪分子分析的技术。他们的新颖方法基于激光质谱或 LMS 的特殊形式。在考古学中常规使用的大量强大的分析化学技术中，大多数特别适合元素分析。另一方面，对考古样品中的有机化合物进行分析更具挑战性，通常需要多种技术的组合，并且往往产生不太具体的鉴定结果。 LMS 技术将通过将共振激光光谱的选择性与质谱的灵敏度相结合来解决这些问题。因此，LMS 同时具有高度特异性和敏感性。检测和识别考古样品中有机化合物的能力是非常理想的，因为许多类型的样品可以根据其有机分子组成进行独特的表征。例如，陶器中的食物残渣（可以让我们了解人们吃什么或喝了什么）、树脂（可以揭示用于熏香的材料）或染料（可以从中了解古代着色和制造技术以及材料来源及其贸易路线的详细信息）。该项目本质上是跨学科的，因为加州大学圣巴巴拉分校化学和生物化学系的 de Vries 博士团队正在与同一所大学人类学系的 Tyson-Smith 博士团队合作。这项试点研究的主要目标是优化该技术，开发用于考古学用途的示踪化合物目录，并与该领域的研究人员合作，促进该技术应用的进一步实际开发。最先进的物理化学技术与人类学和考古学相关主题的独特结合特别适合教育项目。除了培训本科生和研究生外，该研究还将在加州大学圣巴巴拉分校资助的少数族裔学生和高中外展项目框架内涉及本科生和高中生。在另一项合作中，杰克逊州立大学的学生将参与其中，这是一所历史悠久的黑人大学。这项研究的材料还将与湾区博物馆-学校在线科学学习合作试点项目共享。从更广泛的意义上来说，表征以前无法进行此类分析的古代材料的能力将为洞察我们的历史和文化打开新的窗口。