Gold and silver productions during Iron Age at Western Iberia

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Study of an Iron Age Gilded Silver Earring by XRF, SEM-EDS and Multifocus OM

Publication . Serrano, Sofia; Rodrigues, Alexandra; Silva, Rui J. C.; Figueiredo, Elin; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); VICARTE - Vidro e Cerâmica para as Artes; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

The use of gold for artefact productions underwent substantial developments during Iron Age in western Europe, with the diversification of alloy compositions and the introduction of new technologies and aesthetics. This work presents a detailed study of a Late Iron Age earring from the western Iberian Peninsula and a discussion taking into consideration the alloys and technologies used at the time. The earring has a complex structure, composed of block- and strip-twisted wires and granulation. Characterization by multifocus optical microscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF), micro-XRF and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were performed to obtain information on the chemical composition and manufacturing techniques. Results show that the earring was manufactured with wires and granules made of a silver-rich alloy, covered with a gold-rich layer 45 (Formula presented.) m thick on average, which acted as an external coating making the entire earring resemble gold. This is a rare example of an Iron Age gilded earring, and its detailed study provides further information on the manufacturing solutions adopted by the Iron Age goldsmiths.

2023-05-06Artigo científico

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Entidade financiadora

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Programa de financiamento

Concurso de Projetos de I&D em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2022

Número da atribuição

2022.02608.PTDC