Sample Preparation for the Provenance Estimation of Fragments Flaked Off Ancient Bar‐Shaped iron Artifacts Excavated at the Saita Site ( Fukuoka, Japan ) Using Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Fluorescence Analysis

Bar‐shaped iron artifacts were excavated at the Saita site (Fukuoka, Japan), dating from ancient to medieval periods. This study examined sample pretreatment and preparation for accurate provenance estimation using energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis of 10 fragments flaked off during the conservation process of these artifacts. The fragment samples coated with resin, samples after resin removal, pulverized and homogenized samples, and magnetic samples obtained via magnetic separation were analyzed using EDXRF. As a result, for all 10 fragments, the quantitative values for resin‐coated and resin‐removed fragments differed significantly from those of the powdered and magnetic samples, exhibiting very large relative standard deviations. Furthermore, according to the Ti/V scatter diagram used for provenance estimation of ancient iron artifacts, the Ti/V ratios of the powdered samples and magnetic samples were nearly identical. In contrast, TiO 2 and V could not be detected in most fragment samples before and after resin removal. Therefore, provenance estimation of the fragment samples using EDXRF analysis requires, at a minimum, the removal of the surface‐covering resin and subsequent pulverization.