The scanning electron microscope and the archaeologist

摘要

Images from scanning electron microscopy are now quite common and they can be of great value in archaeology. Techniques such as secondary electron imaging, backscattered electron imaging and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis can reveal information such as the presence of weevils in grain in Roman Britain, the composition of Roman coins and the burial of an Iron Age warrior on a sheep's fleece that has long since rotted away.