Laboratory studies of artifacts have become increasingly common in the last few decades. Archaeologists (both excavators and curators), art historians and conservators have become aware of the importance of analytical studies of these objects for the interpretation, conservation, and restoration of such valuable cultural materials [1–10]. The materials studies usually span the range of metals (bronzes, ferrous alloys, lead, silver, gold), oxide ceramics (pottery, faience, stoneware, porcelain, vitrified materials such as ...