Abstract
Gold parting enabled the production of very pure gold for various purposes from the sixth century BC onwards, but analytical proof of this pyrotechnical process is difficult. We describe a new analytical approach for the identification of purified gold combining silver and copper isotopic with trace element analyses. Parting experiments were performed with gold-silver-copper alloys using the classical salt cementation process to investigate potential silver and copper isotope fractionation and changes in trace element concentrations. In addition, we provide the first comprehensive dataset of silver isotope ratios of archaeological gold objects from the Mediterranean and Central Europe to test whether or not gold refining can be identified on the basis of isotope systematics. The results show that very heavy silver and copper isotopic compositions are clear evidence for parted gold, but that the application of copper isotopes might be limited.
Highlights
The ancient process of gold parting—a gold refining process—is closely linked to the antique Lydian kingdom and its capital Sardis
Examination of the as-cemented sample MA195828 with SEM-EDX revealed the typical porous microstructure of cemented gold with residues of CuCl2 in the pores and on the surface, but no alloy resulting in silver chloride (AgCl) was detected (Fig. 2, first-row middle)
The present study demonstrates that the ancient gold parting process by salt cementation can be identified in gold artefacts by measuring the Ag isotopic composition
Summary
The Lydians were known by contemporaries for their extraordinary wealth The metallurgical vestiges are unique in their extent and combination and are seen as the inception of gold refining under the reign of Croesus. In this context, the invention of gold parting at this place is revolutionary as it is contemporary with the earliest minting of coinage and may well have paved the way for monetary economics. Because the technical ceramics from that site seem to differ from the aforementioned pieces and no other materials indicating the technological
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