The aim of this thesis is to study and evaluate the application of hyperspectral image analysis as a non-destructive analysis method for historical mortars. This method was applied on 35 sampled mortars in varying sizes and type from the inner walls of the fortified medieval city Carcassonne. By using near infrared spectroscopy and classifying the complex multivariate data by applying the SIMCA method (Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies) it is possible to conduct an in depth analysis of the samples. This can then further our understanding about the construction phases as well as construction techniques used as indicated through the chemometric analysis that can identify and group the mortars in accordance to raw material and transformation process. From this could four distinct groups be found in the PCA models, two Roman periods and two high medieval periods, allowing to study Carcassonne prior to and after its enclosure. A find from the first Roman period indicates on a bathhouse or public building existing prior to the construction of the defensive wall, leading to the hypothesis that maybe more parts of the inner wall might contain older structures like this. The application of hyperspectral image analysis on historical mortars has proven itself a useful tool and simple method for studying mortars. / Målet med denna uppsats var att studera och evaluera applikationen av hyperspektral bildanalys som en icke-destruktiv analysmetod på historiskt murbruk. Instrumentet applicerades på 35 murbruksprover i varierande storlek och typ tagna från de inre murarna av den befästa medeltida staden Carcassonne. Med nära infraröd spektroskopi och klassificering av den multivariata genom SIMCA metoden (Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies) var det möjligt att göra en djupgående analys av proverna. Detta tillvägagångssätt kan då främja vår förståelse om stadens konstruktionsfaser och konstruktionstekniker som indikeras genom den chemometriska analysen som kan identifiera murbruket utefter råmaterial samt hur murbruket tillverkats. Från dessa metoder kunde fyra distinkta grupper finnas i PCA modellerna, två romerska perioder och två högmedeltida perioder, vilket öppnade för tolkning både innan och efter stadsmurarna rests. Ett fynd från den första romerska perioden indikerar på förekomsten av ett badhus eller publik byggnad vars väggar sedan återanvänts vid konstruktionen av den inre stadsmuren. Detta fynd leder till hypotesen att potentiellt andra delar av den inre stadsmuren kan innehålla väggar från äldre byggnader som denna. Applikationen av hyperspektral bildanalys på historiskt murbruk har påvisat sig ett användbart verktyg och simpel metod för att studera murbruk.

Abstract. The goal of this case study is to further the understanding of the social and economic structure, such as trade routes and/or prehistoric man’s movement, during prehistory in the inland of Västerbotten, Sweden. This is achieved by studying the sets of lithic tools found in six archaeological sites (RAÄ 977:1 Vilhelmina, RAÄ 553:1 Vilhelmina, RAÄ 132:1 Vilhelmina, RAÄ 519:1 Vilhelmina, RAÄ 399:1 Vilhelmina och RAÄ 129:1 Åsele) using NIR-spectroscopic (Near InfraRed-spectroscopy), statistical and archaeological methods. By using PCA-models (Principal Component Analysis-models) and the classification method SIMCA (Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies) on NIR-spectroscopic data collected over the course of this study, it was possible to show signs that prehistoric man in the studied area, might have deposited quartzite materials, not naturally occurring at the RAÄ 519:1 Vilhelmina, Sweden, site. Four geographic areas (the vicinity of the sea Vojm, the North and South part of the sea Malgomaj and the vicinity of the Southwest part of the Ångerman river in the studied area) could also be shown to display distinct patterns in the PCA-models, related to the use of particular combinations of quartzites. These findings lead to the conclusion that prehistoric man in this area, typically used locally available materials for toolmaking. Furthermore, this study resulted in a large NIR-spectroscopic dataset from the archaeological sites that makes up the main material for this study, that may be beneficial to future NIR-spectroscopic studies in archaeology and/or further studies of NIR-spectroscopy applied to lithic materials.