Ivelin Kuleff, Totko Stoyanov, Milena Tonkova 2010 Gold Thracian appliqués: authentic or fakes? – In: M. F. Guerra, Th. Rehren (eds.) Authentication and analyses of goldwork. (ArcheoSciences, 33, 2009), Presses Universitaires de Rennes (2010), 365-373. (original) (raw)
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Authentication and analysis of goldwork Gold Thracian appliques : authentic or fake ?
2016
A few years ago, 25 gold appliqués with a total weight of 255 g and dated to a period between the 5th and the 3rd centuries BC were offered to the National History Museum in Sofia (Bulgaria). Some Bulgarian archaeologists – experts in the field of toreutics – expressed the opinion that the offered finds are originals. At the same time, the results of an investigation carried out by the Bulgarian Police brought evidence to the contrary, and, on these bases, started a hearing of the case. Using a non-destructive method of investigation (ED-XRF), the concentrations of Ag, Au, and Cu were determined. A detailed observation of the surface of the finds with reflective optical microscopy was carried out, and, at the same time, stylistic parallels of the offered finds were sought by comparing them to the known similar ancient appliqués. On the bases of the chemical composition, technological observations, and the comparison with parallels of similar chronological finds reported in the liter...
Chalcolithic Gold Finds in the Collection of the Numismatic Museum of Bobokov Bros. Foundation
Interesting artefacts dated back to various periods are kept in the archaeological collection of the Numismatic Museum of Bobokov Bros. Foundation. The current paper aims to publish five Chalcolithic gold appliqués. They were probably made of native gold retrieved from streams or riverbeds. The gold was hammered into thin sheet (foil) and the artefacts were cut out of it. The openings in the appliqués were made with a hard and sharp instrument. Some of the artefacts ( ) are decorated by using the "repoussé" technique (Comşa 1974, 186). The obverse of all appliqués is shiny and the reverse is matt.
Gold Thracian appliques: authentic or fake?
ArchéoSciences, 2009
A few years ago, 25 gold appliqués with a total weight of 255 g and dated to a period between the 5 th and the 3 rd centuries BC were ofered to the National History Museum in Soia (Bulgaria). Some Bulgarian archaeologists-experts in the ield of toreutics-expressed the opinion that the ofered inds are originals. At the same time, the results of an investigation carried out by the Bulgarian Police brought evidence to the contrary, and, on these bases, started a hearing of the case. Using a non-destructive method of investigation (ED-XRF), the concentrations of Ag, Au, and Cu were determined. A detailed observation of the surface of the inds with relective optical microscopy was carried out, and, at the same time, stylistic parallels of the ofered inds were sought by comparing them to the known similar ancient appliqués. On the bases of the chemical composition, technological observations, and the comparison with parallels of similar chronological inds reported in the literature, we established that the 25 golden appliqués ofered to the Museum by the treasure hunters are fake. Résumé : Il y a quelques années, le Musée National de Soia (Bulgarie) a acquis 25 appliqués en or, d'un poids total de 255 gr, datées du V e-III e siècle av. J.-C. Des archéologues bulgares, experts en toreutique, ont identiié les objets comme étant des originaux. Cependant, des recherches menées par la Police bulgare ont débouché sur une remise en question de l'authenticité de ces pièces. Une étude non destructive (par ED-FX) a permis de déterminer les concentrations d'argent, d'or et de cuivre des appliqués en or. Leur surface a été observée minutieusement au microscope optique et une analyse stylistique et iconographique a été réalisée. Les résultats de l'analyse de la composition chimique du métal, les observations technologiques et la comparaison avec des parallèles archéologiques ont inalement permis de formuler la thèse que ces 25 appliques en or sont fausses.
PUNCHES, MOULDS AND MATRIXES FROM NORTH-EASTERN BULGARIA: AN ARCHEOMETALLURGICAL STUDY
The 6th c. BC is of special importance for the cultural development of the Thracian lands. It is marked by the end of the Greek colonization of the West coast of the Black Sea and the appearance of the fi rst indications of Thracian state-like systems that had cultural and trade relations with the regions of Southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. The increasing authority and economic power of the local rulers found a natural refl ection in the desire to possess numerous objects made of precious (and non-precious) metals that were meant to give prominence to their social status. This fact predetermined the appearance of craftsmen, some non-resident, who aimed at satisfying these needs. In the above mentioned period, the geographical borders of North-eastern Thrace where as follows: Yantra River to the west, the Balkan Mountain to the south, the Black Sea to the east, and the Carpathians to the north. These lands were controlled by the Getae, a Thracian people, with their capital Helis, the city of Dromichaites (see e.g. Stoyanov et al. 2004), located near the town of Isperih, Razgrad region (Fig.1). The Getae were in intensive trade and cultural relationship with the urban centres in Southern Thrace (some of them being part of the disintegrating Thracian kingdom of the Odrysian tribal union, and other being a result of the activity of Philip II of Macedon), as well as with those on the Western Black Sea coast. In this sense, they were very different from their western neighbours, the Thracian tribe of the Triballians. The latter were under the cultural infl uence of the regions along the Middle Danube and the Eastern Mediterranean. In North-eastern Thrace, two of the investigated Thracian metal workshops in present-day Bulgaria are located. The fi rst one was excavated in the capital of the Getae, and the other some 60 km to the south, in a Thracian city on a natural hill (see e.g. Антонов 2007; Атанасов 2003; Stoyanov, Mihaylova 1996). It should be mentioned that there are only a few more workshops, registered in Bulgaria. The time when they existed (generally 4th-3rd c. BC) coincided with the heyday of the political and military power of the Thracian aristocracy. There was an increase in the import of fi nished metal products, some of them custom-made. At the same time, these territories witnessed the arrival of an increasing number of Greek craftsmen from the Pontic colonies that began working in the interior and started taking into consideration the specifi c tastes of the Thracians. In the centuries to come, along with the diminishing power of the Thracian tribes, one could observe a reduction in the quantity of the metal vessels, as well as the appearance of elements and objects typical of the La Tene culture. This paper presents the results of the chemical determination of metal artifacts from North-eastern Bulgaria, dated to the 5th-2nd c. BC. The obtained analytical data are interpreted in the context of the archaeological evidence, revealing the degree of development of the technology for the production of various metals and alloys.
AbstrAct Using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry the content of gold, silver and copper in 7 gold breast plates dated to 5 th-4 th century BC and preserved in National Archaeological Institute with Museum to Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was determined. The concentration of gold is between 67.4 and 92.2%. The analytical results show that the investigated archaeological finds of gold are produced using gold without intentional adding of copper – in 2 samples copper concentration is below 0.001% and in other 5 is between 0.35 and 1.15%. The concentration of silver in 5 of the investigated finds is between 20.1 and 32.3%, which could be accepted as electrum. The concentration of silver in other 2 finds was 15% and 6%. The chemical composition of the investigated gold-finds from ancient Thracе was compared with the analytical data about chemical composition of known gold sources from Balkan region.
Archeometric Analysis of a Group of Gold Artifacts in Burdur Museum (Turkey), 2024
In this article a catalog and archeometric analysis of a group of eleven artifacts of jewelry gold artifacts from the Burdur Museum are examined. The artifacts were brought to the museum through purchase. They were graded based on their forms: head jewelry, hand jewelry, neck jewelry, and bust. Two artifacts (earring, necklace pendulum) from the Iron Age and Classical Period; Two artifacts (earrings) from the Hellenistic Period; Six artifacts from the Roman Period (three earrings, two rings, busts); There is an artifact (ring) from the Late Roman-Early Byzantine Period. They are produced by different construction techniques: casting, wire, filigree, repousse, engraving and granulation. The earliest artifact dates from the Iron Age; Late period artifacts date back to the Early Byzantine Period. Since it is not allowed to take pieces from the artifact and use destructive methods in the analysis of the artifacts, the analyzes were carried out using non-destructive methods. Three analytical methods were applied: portable energy dispersive XRF (P-EDXRF), X-ray Radiography and µ-PIXE. Such microanalytical techniques are widely used in alloy characterization studies. Additionally, statistical SPSS analyzes of the artifacts were performed. In these analyses we are dealing with the use of pure gold and gold ore, the chemical components of alloys, the color difference caused by the combination of gold with silver and copper alloys, the alloy used in plating, and the copper ratios used in soldering. Among others some issues concerning manufacturing defects occurring during the production phase, artifacts that are recycled or secondary production, and distortions caused by overheating during soldering, are discussed.
Analyses of gold artifacts from Slovenia
Nuclear Inst. and …, 2000
The method of particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) was used for the study of two gold archaeological ®nds: a Norico±Pannonian brooch, presumably a votive item, and a pair of earrings and a ring from a Slavic female grave. The analysis was performed by an external proton millibeam and aimed to identify the manufacturing techniques. The brooch, including the spring, was made of a rather pure 98% gold. This may indicate that the brooch was produced for votive purposes, as a more¯exible spring would suit an object to be worn. The Slavic ring was made of a dierent alloy than the earrings; moreover, its inhomogeneous alloy reveals the exploitation of local gold sources. Ó
2014
This book presents the bronze artworks discovered in the Thracian sanctuaries, necropolises, and ancient cities of the Bulgarian lands. It is comprised of cult statues, drawings on household objects, furniture and carriages, as well as applied plastics – such as glassware and paper weights. In regards to chronology, they date between 8th century BC and 5th century AD. The illustrations showcase the style, thematic diversity, and aesthetic ideals prevalent at that time, as well as the high degree of knowledge and technical skills of the illustrations’ creators.
2018