Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of Nok sculptures in I. P. Stanback Museum

The purpose of this research is to conduct provenance study of the Nok sculptures in the I.P. Stanback Museum via instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Several samples at different points on the sculptures were collected and then irradiated with thermal/epithermal neutrons from the PULSTAR reactor. INAA results indicate that (1) ceramic samples from the sculptures have different elemental concentrations from those of soil samples in which the sculptures may have been buried; (2) ceramic samples of the two different Nok sculptures share similar elemental concentrations; (3) ceramic firing processes cannot change the chemical composition of clay significantly.