Results

Results 

Method development proved successful at determining elemental concentrations for all 36 analytes (Chert_data_2022). Majority of analytes showed good recovery rates in comparison to reference values obtained from GeoRem. However, some did show poor recovery rates (V51, Mn55, Co59, Ga69, Rb85, Sr88, Y89, Zr90, Cs133, Ce140), further steps in method development will address the low recovery rates of these analytes specifically. Statistical analysis was employed to show preliminary results in relation to the research questions.

Statistical Analysis 

The elemental concentrations for each sample obtained from analysis were averaged and multivariate analysis was used. Elemental biplots were first used to examine the distribution of data. Linear Discriminate Analysis (LDA) was then conducted on the sample set. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is used to achieve group separation of training data from known geological source and generates pre-defined groups. The resulting discriminant rules are then used for classifying and assigning the archaeological specimens to one of these pre-defined geological groups.

Results of the LDA analysis show clear distinction between the different source groups.