Roman coins at the edge of the Negev: characterisation of copper alloy artefacts and soil from Rakafot 54 (Beer Sheva, Israel)

Authors

  • Manuel J.H. Peters Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy Department of History, Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais 2, 7000-803 Évora, Portugal http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1997-3825
  • Yuval Goren Department of Bible, Archaeology & Ancient Near East, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
  • Peter Fabian Department of Bible, Archaeology & Ancient Near East, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
  • José Mirão HERCULES Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal Geosciences Department, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal
  • Carlo Bottaini HERCULES Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
  • Sabrina Grassini Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
  • Emma Angelini Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21014/actaimeko.v11i4.1285

Keywords:

archaeometry, archaeometallurgy, archaeological materials science, classical archaeology, Near Eastern archaeology

Abstract

The research presented in this paper focused on the preliminary non- and semi-destructive analysis of copper alloys, corrosion, and soil components from a Roman archaeological site in Israel. Investigations using portable X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy as well as micromorphological analyses were carried out to gain a better understanding of the corrosion processes affecting the copper alloy artefacts, by characterising the alloy composition, soil environments, and corrosion products. Preliminary results indicate that the artefacts consist of copper-lead-tin alloys, covered by copper hydroxy-chlorides and lead sulphate phases with slight variations in their crystallisation. The multi-analytical approach revealed the presence of quartz, calcite, gypsum and feldspars in the sediments, while thin sections more specifically indicate loess soils with local micro-environments

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Published

2022-12-22

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 4 (2022)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Manuel J.H. Peters, Yuval Goren, Peter Fabian, José Mirão, Carlo Bottaini, Sabrina Grassini, Emma Angelini

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