Search Results for archaeometallurgy

The production and processing of advanced materials, namely metals and alloys, began in the Old World about 8000 years ago and developed over many millennia, providing a lasting legacy for modern civilizations. This article gives a brief overview of the production and processing of ancient bronzes and silver in the Old World, and also mentions post-processing problems including corrosion and embrittlement, owing to long-term burial before archaeological recovery.

A world-renowned archaeometallurgist reflects on his career within the discipline and the technological advancements he witnessed during five decades out in the field and at the microscope.

This study characterizes a historical Decauville narrow-gauge rail from Argentina (circa 1884) using metallographic analysis, chemical composition testing, and microhardness measurements. The rail, manufactured by French engineer Paul Decauville's company for portable agricultural and industrial transport, exhibited a hypoeutectoid steel composition (0.52% C) with ferrite-pearlite microstructure showing cold deformation patterns from service stress. Chemical analysis revealed a composition comparable to modern European rail steels, while microhardness values met current rail standards. Macrographic examination confirmed excellent material quality with no manufacturing defects. The study demonstrates that this 19th-century rail achieved contemporary quality standards through controlled manufacturing processes, with service-induced cold deformation enhancing mechanical strength and wear resistance.

A study of metal artifacts from the Mendoza region of Argentina reveals the influences of native migration and European conquest.

A look at processing and production of iron during the Iron Age, 1200 to 500 B.C., including early unintentional forms of steel.

This article describes a metallographic and SEM study of a Spanish silver coin. The study verified the coin's authenticity and determined its alloy composition. The investigation is an example of a unique archaeometallurgical collaboration between a university and a museum.

This article summarizes the more common analytical techniques for studying ancient metal artifacts, illustrated by case histories. There are two main classifications: noninvasive and invasive techniques. This distinction is of prime importance because some heritage objects may be too rare or valuable for invasive sampling, or there may be ethical objections to certain types of examination. Noninvasive examination of ancient metal artifacts is important, yet it cannot provide the detailed information obtainable from invasive techniques. This is especially true when artifacts contain “hidden” damage and there is also a need for accurate quantitative analyses.

This article provides an overview of cracking and fracture mechanisms in heritage gold, silver, low-tin bronze, and wrought iron alloys. Understanding these mechanisms can be important for restorers, and possibly for conservators and curators as well. Metallography is widely used (when sampling is permitted) for studying archaeometallurgical artifacts in detail. However, fracture surface examinations and analysis (i.e., fractography) can often provide even greater insight. Case studies demonstrate the benefits of employing fractographic analysis to study cracking and fracture mechanisms in heritage alloys.

A recent metallographic and historical analysis of two parts from the Buenos Aires to Pacific Railroad railway looked at possible manufacturing techniques of the parts in question. The information collected is useful for comparison with techniques and materials used at that time as well as with current techniques. The analysis questioned whether the material itself has varied or evolved from the metallurgical point of view, and confirmed the quality of raw material used to construct the historic railway line.

Forensic metallurgy investigations in archaeology and aerospace engineering follow similar technical protocols but serve different objectives. Archaeometallurgical analyses focus on artifact provenance and cultural heritage management with minimal invasive sampling, while aerospace investigations prioritize rapid failure analysis for operational problems. Four case studies illustrate the approaches: noninvasive macrophotographic analysis of an ancient silver cup revealed stress corrosion cracking, noninvasive investigation of a Boeing 747 accident identified fatigue failure in fuse pins due to inadequate load knowledge, invasive lead isotope analysis successfully provenanced Chinese bronzes using kernel density methods, and comprehensive testing of F-16 wing bolts ruled out hydrogen embrittlement. Both fields employ similar analytical techniques, including microscopy, fractography, and chemical analysis, but differ in sampling constraints, time pressures, and reporting goals, with successful investigations in both domains requiring interdisciplinary teamwork.

A scientific study of two copper coins from 1851 and 1853 reveals well-preserved symbols of a growing, newly independent Chile nation.

A metallurgical study of a 10th century iron-base nail from the central-East coast of Tunisia reveals how early metallurgists without modern scientific knowledge created parts with engineered properties.

Although stress corrosion cracking (SCC) accounts for just a fraction of all engineering failures, its prevention is a major problem, particularly in the aerospace industry. Recent archaeometallurgical studies show that stress corrosion cracking occurred in ancient metallic artifacts. This article describes investigations that revealed definite evidence for SCC in ancient silver and bronze alloys and a probable case of SCC in low-carat (13K) gold. Diagnostic methods included visual inspection, metallography, and fractography.

The initial steps in the art of manufacturing cymbals are discussed from ancient times through the modern era, including copper smelting, alloying copper and tin, pouring the molten metal into ingots, and processing the ingots by hand-hammering or rolling a finished blank.

Metallographic examination and optical emission spectroscopy shed light on the origin of a lampshade found in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The steels used for the ring and wire in the frame are typical of those made prior to WWII and the fabrication processes appear to be of a similar timeframe. Tassels on the lampshade were determined to be a more recent alteration and the fabric was found to be cow skin parchment based on DNA testing.

This case study details the noninvasive analysis of an 5000-year-old silver figurine from Iran, now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The The object of this study, a figure of a kneeling bull clothed in a robe with a stepped linear pattern and holding up a spouted vessel, is composed of 15 pieces of worked silver joined together with silver solder. The aim of the study is to apply noninvasive micro-xray fluorescence spectroscopy (μ-XRF) analysis to characterize the silver alloy compositions and compare the new data with previously obtained results from invasive chemical analyses of samples performed by thermal neutron activation.

News about ASM members, chapters, events, awards, conferences, affiliates, and other society activities. Topics include: ASM announces 2023 award program honorees; the sites to the ASM Historical Landmarks program for 2023 are Arvida Aluminum Bridge, Saguenay, Quebec, Falun Copper Mine, Sweden, and IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; Robert O. Ritchie to present the 2023 Alpha Sigma Mu lecture; professional profile for Viraj Ashok Athavale; Tresa Pollock announced as the winner of the 2023 Acta Materialia Gold Metal.

News about ASM members, chapters, events, awards, conferences, affiliates, and other society activities. Topics include: ASM affiliate societies announce new officers and and board members for 2020; ASM President Diana Essock describes diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by the society; Sarah M. Graham receives certficate of achievement in metallography from the ASM Education Department; professional profile for Melanie Buziak; recap of an emerging professionals session at the IMAT 2020 virtual event; photo gallery of highlights from IMAT sessions.

News about ASM members, chapters, events, awards, conferences, affiliates, and other society activities. Topics include: The ASM Materials Education Foundation announces 2020 scholarship winners; the process used for updating the 2020 ASM Strategic Plan; professional profile for Patricia Silvana Carrizo; Brittnee Mound-Watson, Emerging Professionals Committee Co-chair, describes transferable skills in moving from graduate school to industry.

News about ASM members, chapters, events, awards, conferences, affiliates, and other society activities. Topics include: ASM Board appoints committee and council chairs; ASM appoints Carrie Wilson as Interim Managing Director; Nagpur Chapter welcomes Navin Manjooran; Los Alamos Delves into Oppenheimer; professional profile for Ainsley Pinkowitz; 2023 DomesDay winners; In memoriam for Rodney R. Boyer.