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Cohen M, Ashkenazi D, Gitler H, Tal O. Archaeometallurgical Analysis of the Provincial Silver Coinage of Judah: More on the Chaîne Opératoire of the Minting Process. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:2200. [PMID: 36984080 PMCID: PMC10052650 DOI: 10.3390/ma16062200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Silver coins were the first coins to be manufactured by mass production in the southern Levant. An assemblage of tiny provincial silver coins of the local (Judahite standard) and (Attic) obol-based denominations from the Persian and Hellenistic period Yehud and dated to the second half of the fourth century BCE were analyzed to determine their material composition. Of the 50 silver coins, 32 are defined as Type 5 (Athena/Owl) of the Persian period Yehud series (ca. 350-333 BCE); 9 are Type 16 (Persian king wearing a jagged crown/Falcon in flight) (ca. 350-333); 3 are Type 24 series (Portrait/Falcon) of the Macedonian period (ca. 333-306 BCE); and 6 are Type 31 (Portrait/Falcon) (ca. 306-302/1 BCE). The coins underwent visual testing, multi-focal light microscope observation, XRF analysis, and SEM-EDS analysis. The metallurgical findings revealed that all the coins from the Type 5, 16, 24, and 31 series are made of high-purity silver with a small percentage of copper. Based on these results, it is suggested that each series was manufactured using a controlled composition of silver-copper alloy. The findings present novel information about the material culture of the southern Levant during the Late Persian period and Macedonian period, as expressed through the production and use of these silver coins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maayan Cohen
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Dana Ashkenazi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Haim Gitler
- Israel Museum, Derech Rupin 11, Jerusalem 9171002, Israel
| | - Oren Tal
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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Biswas S, Megatli-Niebel I, Raselli L, Simke R, Cocolios TE, Deokar N, Elender M, Gerchow L, Hess H, Khasanov R, Knecht A, Luetkens H, Ninomiya K, Papa A, Prokscha T, Reiter P, Sato A, Severijns N, Shiroka T, Seidlitz M, Vogiatzi SM, Wang C, Wauters F, Warr N, Amato A. The non-destructive investigation of a late antique knob bow fibula (Bügelknopffibel) from Kaiseraugst/CH using Muon Induced X-ray Emission (MIXE). HERITAGE SCIENCE 2023; 11:43. [PMID: 36873814 PMCID: PMC9977900 DOI: 10.1186/s40494-023-00880-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A knob bow fibula (Bügelknopffibel) of the Leutkirch type, which typologically belongs to the second half of the 4th and early 5th century CE, was excavated in 2018 in the Roman city of Augusta Raurica, present-day Kaiseraugst (AG, Switzerland). This was analyzed for the first time for its elemental composition by using the non-destructive technique of Muon Induced X-ray Emission (MIXE) in the continuous muon beam facility at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). In the present work, the detection limit is 0.4 wt% with ∼ 1.5 hours of measurement time. The fibula was measured at six different positions, at a depth of 0.3-0.4 mm inside the material. The experimental results show that the fibula is made of bronze, containing the main elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn) and lead (Pb). The compositional similarities/differences between different parts of the fibula reveal that it was manufactured as two "workpieces". One workpiece consists of the knob (13.0±0.6 wt% Pb), bow (11.9±0.4 wt% Pb) and foot (12.5 ± 0.9 wt% Pb). These show a higher Pb content, suggesting a cast bronze. The spiral (3.2 ± 0.2 wt% Pb), which is part of the other workpiece, has a comparatively lower Pb content, suggesting a forged bronze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayani Biswas
- Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Isabel Megatli-Niebel
- Archäologisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Köln, Germany
- Augusta Raurica, Schwarzackerstrasse 2, 4302 Augst, Switzerland
| | - Lilian Raselli
- Augusta Raurica, Schwarzackerstrasse 2, 4302 Augst, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Simke
- Augusta Raurica, Schwarzackerstrasse 2, 4302 Augst, Switzerland
| | | | - Nilesh Deokar
- PRISMA+ Cluster of Excellence and Institute of Nuclear Physics, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Lars Gerchow
- Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Herbert Hess
- Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Angela Papa
- Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
- Departimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa and INFN sez. Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Peter Reiter
- Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
| | - Akira Sato
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka Japan
| | - Nathal Severijns
- KU Leuven, Instituut voor Kern-en Stralingfysica, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Toni Shiroka
- Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Michael Seidlitz
- Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
| | - Stergiani Marina Vogiatzi
- Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Chennan Wang
- Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Frederik Wauters
- PRISMA+ Cluster of Excellence and Institute of Nuclear Physics, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Nigel Warr
- Institut für Kernphysik, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
| | - Alex Amato
- Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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A Novel Non-Destructive Technique for Cultural Heritage: Depth Profiling and Elemental Analysis Underneath the Surface with Negative Muons. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12094237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Scientists, curators, historians and archaeologists are always looking for new techniques for the study of archaeological artefacts, especially if they are non-destructive. With most non-destructive investigations, it is challenging to measure beneath the surface. Among the vast board of techniques used for cultural heritage studies, it is difficult to find one able to give information about the bulk and the compositional variations, along with the depth. In addition, most other techniques have self-absorption issues (i.e., only surface sensitive) and limited sensitivity to low Z atoms. In recent years, more and more interest has been growing around large-scale facility-based techniques, thanks to the possibility of adding new and different insights to the study of material in a non-destructive way. Among them, muonic X-ray spectroscopy is a very powerful technique for material characterization. By using negative muons, scientists are able to perform elemental characterization and depth profile studies. In this work, we give an overview of the technique and review the latest applications in the field of cultural heritage.
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