TY - JOUR A1 - Wolff, Timo A1 - Rabin, Ira A1 - Montouvalou, I. A1 - Kanngießer, B. A1 - Malzer, W. A1 - Kindzorra, Emanuel A1 - Hahn, Oliver T1 - Provenance studies on Dead Sea scrolls parchment by means of quantitative micro-XRF N2 - In this study, we address the question of the provenance and origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts. A characteristic low ratio of chlorine to bromine, corresponding to that of the Dead Sea water, may serve as an indicator for local production. For this aim we developed a non-destructive procedure to determine the Cl/Br ratio in the parchment of these manuscripts. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) measurements of a large number of parchment and leather fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls were analyzed with a routine we developed based on fundamental parameter quantification. This routine takes into account the absorption of the collagen matrix and the influence of the different sample thicknesses. To calculate the representative Cl/Br ratio for each fragment, we investigated the lateral homogeneity and determined the total mass deposition using the intensity of the inelastically scattered, characteristic tube radiation. The distribution of the Cl/Br ratios thus obtained from the µ-XRF measurements make it possible to distinguish fragments whose origin lies within the Dead Sea region from those produced in other locations. KW - Fundamental parameter quantification KW - Samples of intermediated thickness KW - Chlorine to bromine ratio KW - Scatter peak evaluation KW - Dark matrix KW - Inorganic traces KW - Archaeometry KW - Fine arts KW - Inorganic compounds KW - Trace elements KW - X-ray spectroscopy PY - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5270-2 SN - 1618-2642 SN - 1618-2650 VL - 402 IS - 4 SP - 1493 EP - 1503 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-25511 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -