Sourcing flint from Sweden and Denmark: A pilot study employing non-destructive energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

• This article presents the results of a pilot study exploring the feasibility of using non-destructive energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry for chemical sourcing of flint from southern Sweden and eastern Denmark. EDXRF results showed that flint samples from Stevns Klint are all chemically alike on the basis of Si/Ca/Fe and Ca/Fe ratio data, yet they possess markedly different visual qualities and are of different geological ages. Samples from Södra Sallerup, Sweden and Stevns Klint, Denmark are chemically similar. The chalk slabs at Södra Sallerup are re-deposited by glacial ice; therefore the results of the chemical analysis may indicate that the slabs originate from the same formation as that which emerges at Stevns Klint. The samples from Klagshamn, Östra Torp and Smygehuk are visually alike and bear the same chemical signature; all three originate from the same geological formation of Danian age but are from different localities. Common Kristianstad Flint (Hanaskog) is distinctive in appearance and the results of the EDXRF instrumental analysis yielded a corresponding unique Ca/Fe chemical signature. In summary, the pilot study successfully revealed distinctions among flint from three geographical areas: eastern Denmark and southwestern Sweden (Stevns Klint, Møns Klint, Södra Sallerup), south and southwestern Sweden (Klagshamn, Östra Torp, Smygehuk) and southeastern Sweden (Hanaskog).

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

flint

energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis

chemical sourcing

south Sweden

Denmark

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)