4.5 Article

A study of the composition and microstructure of silver hoards from Tel Beth-Shean, Tel Dor, and Tel Miqne, Israel

Journal

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages 221-225

Publisher

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s12520-013-0149-0

Keywords

Israel; Bronze and Iron Age; Silver hoards; Hacksilber; Chemical content; Microstructure

Funding

  1. ERC [229418]
  2. European Research Council (ERC) [229418] Funding Source: European Research Council (ERC)

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The chemical composition and microstructure of objects excavated in three hoards from the end of the Late Bronze and Iron Age sites in Israel were studied using energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis and optical metallography. The objects are industrial in origin (scrap or jewelry pieces) and include differently shaped ingots, mainly so-called hacksilber, in various sizes. The primary composition is Ag with typically several percent of Cu and Au and less than 1 % of Pb. The concentrations of these metals in each hoard differ significantly. The microstructure of the hacksilber ingots shows a typical dendritic as-cast structure and a surface cold work deformation, probably caused by chiseling the ingot piece off a larger cast bar. Relatively high concentrations of Au, as in the above samples, were observed previously in Egyptian ancient silver which differs from the ancient Greek silver that contains a significantly lower Au content.

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