Abstract
The bronze finds from the Ayanis Fortress, dated to Rusa (son of Argishti) (680–640 BC), were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate the alloying techniques of Urartian bronze work. The feasibility of a handheld portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) method for measuring the elemental characteristics of ancient bronze artifacts was also examined. The chemical data revealed that Ayanis bronze objects were made of copper-tin (Cu-Sn) alloy, but the Cu/Sn ratio varied for the artifacts, showing that tailored alloying techniques were not applied with regard to the function of the objects. Following a comparison of the elemental data from bulk and surface analysis, pXRF was deemed less accurate because of corrosion layers on the surface, even for mechanically cleaned samples. Microstructural observation showed features that imply several cold working and annealing cycles were applied during manufacture.
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