LEAD ISOTOPE ANALYSES OF BRONZE AGE COPPER‐BASE ARTEFACTS FROM AL‐MIDAMMAN,YEMEN: TOWARDS THE IDENTIFICATION OF AN INDIGENOUS METAL PRODUCTION AND EXCHANGE SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHERN RED SEA REGION*

The results of the lead isotope analysis (LIA) of 15 copper‐base artefacts from the Bronze Age site of al‐Midamman, Yemen, are reported. The LIA data suggest the existence of an indigenous Bronze Age metal production and exchange system centred on the southern Red Sea region, distinct from those in neighbouring regions of Arabia and the Levant. These preliminary results are highly significant for the archaeology of the region, suggesting that local prehistoric copper extraction sites have thus far gone unrecorded, and highlighting the need for systematic archaeometallurgical fieldwork programmes in the countries surrounding the southern Red Sea.     

THE PROPERTIES AND IDENTIFICATION OF MARBLE FROM PROCONNESOS (MARMARA ISLAND,TURKEY): A NEW DATABASE INCLUDING ISOTOPIC,EPR AND PETROGRAPHIC DATA*

This paper reports an updated and enlarged archaeometric database of Proconnesos marbles with the aim of attaining more reliable inter‐ and intra‐site identification. Quarry and artefact samples (n = 397) from 23 different quarrying areas were characterized using petrographic, isotopic and EPR results. The most distinct property of Proconnesos marbles is their extremely weak EPR intensity, associated with the low concentration of Mn²⁺impurities. This feature, supported by the contribution of other important isotopic and petrographic variables, forms the basis for the correct identification of Proconnesos marbles. Within the site the distribution of properties is relatively homogeneous; only limited intra‐site discrimination is possible. All the experimental results, as well as the quarry samples are made available to other researchers willing to measure additional experimental properties, thus increasing the rate of within the site discrimination. Extensive survey has proved that, although about 10% of the samples exhibit maximum grain size below 1.0 mm, no locations exist where fine grained marbles could be intentionally quarried. The historical aspects of Proconnesos marble quarrying and usage are also discussed.     

NON‐DESTRUCTIVE PORTABLE GAMMA RAY SPECTROMETRY USED IN PROVENANCING ROMAN GRANITOID COLUMNS FROM LEPTIS MAGNA,NORTH AFRICA*

Portable gamma ray spectrometry (PGRS) provides a non destructive means to analyst quantitatively large artefacts, such as building stones, for the radioelements K. U and Th. Nine Raman granitoid columns at the Leptis Magna Ruins in Windsor Great Park, London, were measured in situ by PGRS. Corrections for the environmental background contribution to the gamma ray flux measured, and for the shape and size of the columns, are described Comparison of the PGRS data with a radioelement data base for Roman granite sources indicates that most of the columns originated in the Troad area of Turkey. Two columns could not be unambiguously provenanced using PGRS alone because there is insufficient difference between radioelement concentrations in certain sources. However, non‐destructive measurements of magnetic susceptibility, used in conjunction with PGRS data, suggest that these two columns originated in the Kozak Daǧ, also in Turkey.     

TECHNOLOGY AND PROVENANCE OF A COLLECTION OF ISLAMIC COPPER‐BASED OBJECTS AS FOUND BY CHEMICAL AND LEAD ISOTOPE ANALYSIS*

Chemical and lead isotope analyses were utilized to determine the composition, technology and origin of a collection of Islamic copper‐based objects found in Jordan. The atomic absorption spectrometry results show that the objects were made of different types of copper‐base alloys that contain various amounts of zinc, tin and lead. The use of brass, highly leaded brass and quaternary alloys of Cu‐Zn‐Sn‐Pb in the manufacture of everyday, household objects strongly points to Islamic traditions. The lead isotope compositions of the objects match very well that of the copper ore mined from the Dolomite‐Limestone‐Shale unit of the Arabah copper mines.     

LIME PLASTER AS AN ADHESIVE FOR HAFTING EIGHTEENTH-DYNASTY FLINT SICKLES FROM TELL EL DAB'A,EASTERN NILE DELTA (EGYPT)*

A combination of analytical techniques, including thin-section observations, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence analysis, was applied to study the nature and origin of an adhesive used for mounting flint sickle blades to a wooden handle, recovered from early Eighteenth Dynasty culture layers of the multi-layer settlement at Tell el Dab'a, Lower Eygpt. The results obtained from these investigations led to the conclusion that the adhesive is a pure lime plaster, thus providing the oldest evidence for the use of this material as a binding agent so far known in ancient Egypt.     

SOIL PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS: A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR MEASUREMENT IN THE FIELD USING A TEST STRIP*

A new method for soil phosphate analysis has been developed for field measurement which will increase the applicability of phosphate mapping in archaeological prospection.     

LEAD ISOTOPE ANALYSIS OF TANG SANCAI POTTERY GLAZES FROM GONGYI KILN,HENAN PROVINCE AND HUANGBAO KILN,SHAANXI PROVINCE

Through the use of MC–ICP–MS, this study analyses the lead isotope ratios of 19 Tang Sancai pottery glazes unearthed from the Gongyi and Huangbao kiln sites. According to their different lead isotope ratios, the two kilns can be grouped separately. The research also suggests that the Gongyi and Huangbao kilns are independent production centres of Tang Sancai in the Tang Dynasty. The data from the Huangbao kiln indicates that the lead in the glazes originates from the Northern China geochemical province, while the data from Gongyi kiln suggests its source as the Yangtze geochemical province. Furthermore, the results obtained for the Tang Sancai pottery indicate that the lead sources for glaze making of these two kilns were very consistent, which suggests that lead isotope analysis could be a helpful method to identify the kilns producing Tang Sancai artefacts.     

The circulation of precious metals in the Arab Empire: the case of the near and the Middle East*

The analysis by nuclear activation techniques and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry combined with an UV laser of a large number of gold coins issued in the Arab Empire from the seventh to the 12th century ad showed that several different supplying sources were used, according to the region and to the period. The aim of this paper is to point out the circulation of gold in the Near and Middle Eastern mints of the Arab Empire and to make a parallel with the mints’ policies running in the other regions of the Empire, such as North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and the Sicily. The identification of different gold ores by means of characteristic trace elements indicated recycling of the ancient coinage and, after ad 750, the minting in the entire Arab Empire of different new gold ores: Egyptian type, North Eastern type and West African type. The analysis of a small number of silver coins from the same periods and regions also showed a change in the ore supply after ad 750.     

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF THE ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE RESULTS FROM BLUE AND WHITE CHINESE PORCELAINS*

The energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique was employed to study non-destructively the surface of 66 samples of Chinese porcelain, of different periods and origins, and determine the contents of 13 chemical elements, namely, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Pb, Rb, Sr, Y and Zr. Principal components analysis was performed on these 13 variables, and scatter plots, incorporating the first, second and third principal components, used to study the clustering behaviour of the data. Based on these results, discriminant analysis was then performed on the data, and discriminant functions established for attributing the period and origin of the porcelains.     

X-RAY FLUORESCENCE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CORONA FERREA*

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses of metals, glasses and enamels from the Corona Ferrea, or Iron Crown, of Monza are reported. The method followed to obtain quantitative analysis of metal alloys was based on comparison with standards and it is framed on the more general problem of XRF quantitative analysis of irregularly shaped objects with a portable instrument. Preliminary radiocarbon dating results are also reported.