COPPER AND COPPER ALLOYS IN ANCIENT IRAQ,SYRIA AND PALESTINE: SOME NEW ANALYSES

In a pilot-programme to increase evidence for the history of copper-alloying in ancient Iraq, Syria and Palestine 128 objects in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, were tested with a point-source linear X-ray spectrometer for tin, arsenic and antimony. These analyses showed the gradual introduction of tin-copper alloys into Iraq after ca. 2750 b.c. (Early Dynastic IIIA), into Syria a little later and into Palestine by the end of the third millennium b.c. , though numerous artefacts continue to be of copper or arsenical-copper until well into the second millennium b.c. at least. With the appearance of tin-copper alloys the percentage of arsenic in the copper objects noticeably declines indicating that the earlier arsenical-coppers were deliberately produced under controlled conditions.     

COPPER AND COPPER ALLOYS IN ANCIENT TURKEY: SOME NEW ANALYSES

This note presents some new analyses for 13 early copper and bronze artefacts from Turkey in the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. They were not included in a small programme of early copper and bronze objects from Iraq, Syria and Palestine (Moorey and Schweizer 1972, Archaeometry 14 (2), 177–198) and conclude this pilot-project.     

COPPER AND COPPER ALLOYS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ALPS: AN OVERVIEW*

In recent years, several groups of archaeological metal finds from the areas around the southeastern Alps, dated between Bronze Age and Roman times, have been scientifically analysed (by ICP, AAS and/or XRF) within the framework of different projects. The data now available give a fairly good general picture of the evolution and development of metallurgy in this area and seem to indicate that the region played an important role in the exchange of objects and raw materials over many centuries. The significance of some of the metal finds, which are particularly relevant for this research, is discussed.     

ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT COPPER ALLOYS: EMPIRICAL VALUES FOR PRECISION AND ACCURACY

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analyses are compared with neutron activation as well as atomic absorption analyses of ancient copper-based alloys in order to examine their accuracy and to estimate realistic values for precision and sensitivity of EDXRF. The results show that it is possible to obtain reliable data of the surface composition of objects non-destructively. Better results for bulk composition are usually obtained with drill samples where the sensitivity of the method is at least competitive with atomic absorption spectroscopy with flame atomization.     

PRE-COLUMBIAN METALLURGY: TECHNOLOGY,MANUFACTURE, AND MICROPROBE ANALYSES OF COPPER BELLS FROM THE GREATER SOUTHWEST*

Twenty-four cast copper crotals (commonly called bells), one 'spilled bell’, one tinkler bell and a number of minerals from locations throughout the Greater Southwest were analysed for their elemental composition by a PIXE nuclear microprobe at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA. Sixteen bells contained minor and trace amounts of silver, antimony, arsenic, lead, and in some cases tin, strontium, and selenium. Nine bells contained little or no detectable amounts of these elements. This suggests that several workshops throughout the Greater Southwest and Mexico might have manufactured these bells.     

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF COPPER ALLOY TRADE METAL FROM A POST-CONTACT HURON SITE IN ONTARIO,CANADA

Fifty-three copper-based metal fragments, recovered from the Robitaille site in southcentral Ontario, were analysed by neutron activation to establish their chemical make-up and to sort them by their trace elemental chemistries. Three different European copper samples, one brassy copper and 48 brass samples with five different chemistries were found. As few as eight trading actions may account for all of the recovered European metal fragments.     

SOLDERING WITH GOLD ALLOYS IN ANCIENT SOUTH AMERICA: EXAMINATION OF TWO SMALL GOLD STUDS FROM ECUADOR

This paper presents the results of electron microprobe analysis of two gold studs, and their associated gold alloy solders. from La Tolita in Ecuador. Metallographic and compositional data are presented and the types of solders used are discussed.     

PALAEOCLIMATIC IDENTIFICATION BASED ON AN ISOTOPE STUDY OF TRAVERTINE FROM THE COPPER AGE SITE AT LOS MILLARES,SOUTH-EASTERN SPAIN*

Remains of an aqueduct from the Copper Age settlement of Los Millares have been studied. The isotope results (—7‰ < δ¹⁸O — 5.3‰) show that the aqueduct was used to transport fresh water at room temperature. The results are inconsistent with the aqueduct being used for hot water transport or as a container for water exposed to evaporation processes. Both isotopic and mineralogical results were useful in identifying the origin and use of building materials and also in determining climatic conditions during the time of the settlement occupation.     

STUDY OF ANCIENT GREEK COPPER COINS FROM NIKOPOLIS (EPIRUS) AND THESSALONIKI (MACEDONIA)

Ancient copper coins from the Greek cities Nikopolis in Epirus and Thessaloniki in Macedonia, minted during Roman imperial times (31 BC to AD 268), were analysed non-destructively by proton induced X-ray emission, after removal of the patina. An intercompar-ison study using different analytical methods was also performed on five coins. Eleven elements were analysed quantitatively on all coins. Statistical analysis of the results was performed for their presentation in the form of dendrograms. Finally, the variations in the concentrations of some individual elements from emperor to emperor were examined.     

TRACE ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY OF NATIVE COPPER FROM THE WHITE PINE MINE,MICHIGAN (USA): IMPLICATIONS FOR SOURCING ARTEFACTS*

Eighty-five samples of native copper from the White Pine mine in upper Michigan were analysed by neutron activation to document geochemical variability within a single locality. Silver, sodium, antimony and scandium contents vary by two orders of magnitude, whereas arsenic values vary by three orders of magnitude. This variability reinforces the need for provenance studies of artefacts to examine sufficient samples to test for heterogeneity within the source area. The White Pine suite contains some of the most impure native copper that has been analysed to date. Arsenic and silver values of these impure samples overlap with those of European coppers, but consideration of several elements can still distinguish native copper from European copper.     

ION BEAM ANALYSIS OF COPPER AND COPPER ALLOY COINS

In recent years ion beam techniques have become more and more important since in most cases the analysis of copper and copper alloy coins has to be non-destructive. It is therefore of interest to study the relative advantages of several nuclear methods for a certain type of metal. The results are presented here of a comparison between three non-destructive ion beam techniques: particle induced X-ray emission, proton activation analysis and fast neutron activation analysis.     

GOLD AND SILVER ALLOY COATINGS OVER COPPER: AN EXAMINATION OF SOME ARTEFACTS FROM ECUADOR AND COLOMBIA

An examination, by metallography, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and electron probe microanalysis of some decorative metalwork and small items such as needles and fish-hooks from Ecuador and Colombia revealed that ‘fusion-gilding’ or ‘wash-gilding’ was employed in the manufacture of many artefacts. The coatings found included silver alloy coatings over copper and gold alloys over copper. The coatings are often themselves superficially enriched at the surface; they are thick, and completely different from the surfaces found on depletion gilded objects which are far more common in ancient Colombia. The evidence from Ecuador is piecemeal and a considerable number of additional analyses must be carried out to clarify the extent of use of this surface treatment technology.     

IRON IN ANCIENT COPPER

Analysis of early copper-base artifacts invariably reveals traces of iron. Iron enters the copper during the smelting process and the level of iron in the metalwork is an indication of the smelting technology. In areas such as Western Europe where prehistoric slag heaps are absent even in the proximity of undoubted ancient mines, the iron content is low reinforcing the link between smelting technology and iron content. Very occasionally the iron content was deliberately encouraged and alloys containing between 30% and 50% of iron in copper were made, mainly for use in currency. These alloys are without modern parallel and their metallography and method of production are considered in some detail here.     

EARLY USE OF BRASS IN SILVER ALLOYS

Summary. The routine analysis of twenty-two silver rings revealed that in some Roman rings brass had been added instead of pure copper. These alloys had formed corrosion products during burial, which meant that the results of surface XRF analysis had to be used with caution. Destructive analysis gave accurate interior compositions, which are used in comparisons with similar material from other authors.     

COPPER AND BRONZE DURING THE ENEOLITHIC AND EARLY BRONZE AGE: A METALLOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF AXES FROM THE NORTHALPINE REGION*

This paper presents the results of a metallographic examination of Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age axes from the Northalpine region of central Europe. During this period, different types of copper were in use: arsenical copper, Fahlerz copper and tin bronze. We examine if and to what extent the different properties of the metals used were known to prehistoric metalworkers and actively manipulated in the production of the axes. The development of methods of casting and smithing is discussed. Both aspects contribute to our understanding of the nature of prehistoric technological change. During the Early Bronze Age of the Northalpine region, different traditions of early metallurgy can be identified, which differ in their use of Fahlerz copper, their attitude towards tin alloying and the use made of tin bronze in the production of the axes. These traditions can only be adequately described by reference to both composition—that is, access to different types of copper as well as tin—and knowledge of the production techniques provided by metallographic data.