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Microanalytical Study of Ancient Gold Jewelry: Mediterranean Impact on the Early Iron Age Technology in Southwestern Iberia

Part of: Micrographia Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2019

Pedro Valério Open the ORCID record for Pedro Valério [Opens in a new window] ,
Rui J.C. Silva ,
António M.M. Soares ,
M. Fátima Araújo ,
Lídia Baptista  and
Ever Calvo
Pedro Valério*
Affiliation:
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
Rui J.C. Silva
Affiliation:
i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
António M.M. Soares
Affiliation:
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
M. Fátima Araújo
Affiliation:
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
Lídia Baptista
Affiliation:
CEAACP, Centro de Estudos de Arqueologia, Artes e Ciências do Património; Arqueologia e Património Lda., Rua do Chouso 434, 4455-804 Santa Cruz do Bispo, Matosinhos, Portugal
Ever Calvo
Affiliation:
ERA Arqueologia, Calçada de Santa Catarina, 9C, 1495-705 Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
*
*Author for correspondence: Pedro Valério, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The gold technology in Iberia underwent an important development during the Early Iron Age (EIA) following the arrival of new technological skills from the Mediterranean region, including the use of filigree, granulation, and brazing. This work presents the microanalytical study of EIA gold jewels (22 spherical beads and four tongue pendants) recovered from three graves in southern Portugal. The set of jewelry, showing an extraordinary stylistic resemblance, was characterized by optical microscopy, micro energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis to establish the alloy composition and production techniques. The pieces show a close technological relation, making use of artificial gold alloys with different amounts of silver (c. 40 and 25%). The decorative styles include different types of filigree (solid wires and hollow wires), while the joining techniques comprise brazing with Au-Ag-Cu solders and, probably, sintering. In spite of those technological and stylistic features, clearly pointing to a Mediterranean influence, the absence of granulation suggests an indigenous workshop where exogenous technologies/decorations were not yet fully integrated in the manufacture of such luxury items.

Keywords

brazinggoldmicro-EDXRFPortugalSEM-EDS
Type
Micrographia
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 1061 - 1073
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2019 

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