Non-destructive compositional and microstructural characterization of Sardinian Bronze Age swords through Neutron Diffraction

2018 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 387-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Grazzi ◽  
Antonio Brunetti ◽  
Antonella Scherillo ◽  
Marco E. Minoja ◽  
Gianfranca Salis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Diffraction ◽  
Bronze Age ◽  
Microstructural Characterization ◽  
Non Destructive

Non-destructive microstructural characterization of a bronze boat model from Vetulonia

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 3041-3046
Author(s):  
Antonio Brunetti ◽  
Francesco Grazzi ◽  
Antonella Scherillo ◽  
Marco E. Minoja ◽  
Gianfranca Salis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microstructural Characterization ◽  
Non Destructive

scholarly journals Archaeometric Characterization of Obsidian Artifacts at Casa dei Francesi (Ustica Island, Italy) and Clues of a Hidden Prehistoric Settlement

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 236-247
Author(s):  
Franco Foresta Martin ◽  
Felice Larocca ◽  
Francesca Micheletti ◽  
Mauro Pallara ◽  
Pasquale Acquafredda
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Middle Bronze Age ◽  
Functional Analyses ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Non Destructive Techniques ◽  
Late Roman

AbstractAt Ustica island (Palermo, Italy), in the area of Casa dei Francesi, 119 fragments of obsidian artifacts were collected on the surface of an agricultural field at an altitude of 50 m asl. In the same area, until now, scientific literature reports only the presence of late Roman pottery (4th–6th centuries AD), and no evidence has appeared that it could be the site of a prehistoric settlement. The most important prehistoric settlement, the Faraglioni Village (Middle Bronze Age) is located 700 m further north, overlooking the sea. Obsidian provenance analyses, performed on the 119 samples with absolutely non-destructive techniques WD-XRF and SEM-EDS, indicate two sources areas: Lipari (93 samples, 78%) and Pantelleria (26 samples, 22%). Concerning the obsidians from the island of Pantelleria, it was possible to also establish the sub-source of Salto la Vecchia. The typological and functional analyses of the 119 obsidian fragments point out that 115 are debitages, some of which show evidence of percussion bulbs, and only 4 are tools with micro-retouching. This work focuses on the geochemical and typological characterization of the obsidian assemblage collected, the characteristics of which suggest the existence of a prehistoric settlement in the area of the Casa dei Francesi or nearby.

scholarly journals A microstructural characterization of some Late Bronze Age metals from Fraga dos Corvos site: fibula, pendants, riveted sheet and droplet

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (S4) ◽  
pp. 141-142
Author(s):  
F. Lopes ◽  
R.J. Silva ◽  
E. Figueiredo ◽  
M.F. Araújo ◽  
J. Reprezas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Cast Alloy ◽  
Dendritic Structure ◽  
Microstructural Characterization ◽  
Metal Artefacts ◽  
Slip Bands ◽  
Thermomechanical Processes ◽  
Microscopy Techniques

The knowledge of our pre-history and ancient metal artefacts production methods can only be deeply investigated through the multidisciplinary approaches involving different analytical techniques including microscopy techniques. The present study concerns the elemental and microstructural characterization of pre-historic bronze artefacts from the Northwestern Iberia Peninsula. During Bronze Age an increment of metal artefacts production and its typological diversification is observed related to the development of metallurgical technology. Several artefacts have been found during recent excavations at the Bronze Age settlement of Fraga dos Corvos (Macedo de Cavaleiros, Portugal). The analysis of metallurgical remains points out to the existence of local metallurgical activities. Five bronze artefacts previously analysed by micro-EDXRF, an Acebuchal fibula fragment, two pendants and a riveted sheet (probably a fragment of a vessel or cauldron) with average concentration values of 10±1.1% Sn and ~2±0.5% Pb and a droplet (?) with ~5% Sn and ~4% Pb, were selected for optical microscopy (OM) and SEM-EDS analysis.Microscopy observations showed to be very important for the comprehension of pre-historic bronze metallurgy, allowing the identification of different phases, inclusions and thermomechanical processes applied during artefacts production. The fibula and the pendants show an equiaxed and twinned microstructure with slip bands (Figure 1 (a) and (c)). The characteristics observed are related to recrystallized and plastically deformed α-Cu structures. These features indicate that the artefacts were hammered and annealed (thermomechanical cycling), ending with a hammering operation. The pendants only exhibit slip bands near the surface, probably resulting from a finishing operation. Lead and Cu-S inclusions are frequently observed. The riveted sheet has an annealed microstructure with large α-Cu grains, undissolved (α+δ) eutectoid and few annealing twins. Elongated Cu-S inclusions, lead globules and pores were identified by SEM-EDS (Figure 1 (a)). Its microstructure indicates that shaping was obtained by just one or few thermomechanical cycles. The droplet presents a coarse and cored dendritic structure (Figure 1 (b)). Rounded Cu-S inclusions, lead globules and pores were also observed. Those are characteristics of a slow cooled as-cast alloy. Due to its low Sn content the (α+δ) eutectoid is absent. As a final note, microscopy techniques allowed establishing the manufacture processes involved in bronze metallurgy and to conclude that different thermomechanical processes were applied according to the typology of the artefact.Financial support received from the Portuguese Science and Technology foundation under the EarlyMetal project PTDC/HIS-ARQ/110442/2008 and the grants SFRH/BPD/73245/2010 (EF) and SFRH/BD/72369/2010 (EL). Financial support of CENIMAT/I3N through the Strategic Project LA25/2011-2012 (PEst-C/CTM/LA0025/2011) is gratefully acknowledged.

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