Neutron based archaeometallurgical investigation of Picenan and Roman age metal objects from the Academia Georgica Treiensis collection (Italy)

Zs Kasztovszky,M Rogante,I Kovács,Z Szőkefalvi-Nagy,Z Kis,L Rosta,B Maróti,Gy Káli

doi:10.1080/20548923.2017.1372933

Abstract

ABSTRACTNon-destructive prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA), neutron radiography (NR) and high resolution time-of-flight neutron diffraction (TOF-ND) have been applied to investigate metal archaeological artefacts belonging to the Academia Georgica Treiensis (AGT) collection. 8 archaeological items have been analysed, by using the facilities of the Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC). Some of these objects mostly dating back probably to the VI-IV century B.C. and presumed to be discovered in the Marche Region, Italy. The primary goal of the analyses was to advance the correct technological and material description of the objects, providing scientific data for further and more comprehensive comparative analyses also covering the find material from the close archaeological sites.The neutron investigations allowed determining the bulk composition, also providing either a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the phase composition and the structural properties of the constituents, or radiographic images, which would finally help to identify possible manufacturing techniques.Additional examinations, carried out by external milli-beam particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE), provided quantitative analyses of major and trace elements (e.g., Fe, Pb and As) in order to recognize the constitutive alloys and to supply information on the near-surface elemental composition, complementary to the data characteristic for the bulk.The obtained results, thought to be useful to set up a classification according to the chemical composition, and this way allow achieving important information related to the possible provenance of the objects.

Highlights

Non-destructive prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA), neutron radiography (NR) and high resolution time-of-flight neutron diffraction (TOF-ND) have been applied to investigate metal archaeological artefacts belonging to the Academia Georgica Treiensis (AGT) collection. 8 archaeological items have been analysed, by using the facilities of the Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC)
A completely fledged craftsmanship of Cu, Ag and Sb was developed in central Italy in the early/mid 4th millennium B.C., prospering until the late 3rd millennium B.C. as it was progressively replaced by tin-bronze technology
Most of the findings focus the Picenan area coincident with the Augustan Regio V (Picenum)

Summary

Introduction

A completely fledged craftsmanship of Cu, Ag and Sb was developed in central Italy in the early/mid 4th millennium B.C., prospering until the late 3rd millennium B.C. as it was progressively replaced by tin-bronze technology. A regional metalworking style advanced in parallel by the Central Italian communities (Dolfini 2010). Since the second half of the 10th century B.C., an archaeological reality emerged in very different regionals and civilizations (e.g., Etruscan and Picenan). The Piceni (or Picentes) belong to the pre-roman culture in central Italy essentially from the IX to the beginning of the III century B.C., in practice the so called “Iron Age”. Most of the findings focus the Picenan area coincident with the Augustan Regio V (Picenum). Knowledge of this civilization is based almost exclusively on archaeological documentation arising especially from the excavation of the necropolis, but a number of villages and some workshop areas are known. The remains emerged in the Macerata Province area (e.g., Matelica) emphasize extensive necropolis already from the 9th-8th century B.C., while the remains of the built-up areas date back to the period 7th-4th century B.C. (Trump 1966, I Piceni e l’Italia medio-adriatica 2003, Archeologia nel Maceratese: nuove acquisizioni 2005)

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