Technological study of gold jewellery pieces dated from Middle Kingdom to New Kingdom in Egypt
Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Troalen, Lore
Guerra, Maria Filomena
Tate, Jim
Manley, W P
Date published
2009
Abstract
This paper presents a technological study of items of Egyptian jewellery from the collections of the National Museums Scotland: a pendant from the 19th century BC; objects from the 16th century BC royal burial unearthed at Qurneh; two gold finger-rings dated to the 14th century BC; and a group of pendants from the 13th century BC. The objects were examined using optical microscopy, X-radiography and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In addition, the elementary compositions of alloys and solder joints were investigated using air-path X-ray fluorescence (XRF), proton-induced X-ray analysis (micro-PIXE), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS). This preliminary study provides information about the evolution of alloy composition and the use of alluvial gold, and illustrates the Ancient Egyptian goldsmiths’ skills in working with wires, granulation and joining techniques.
Journal title
ArcheoSciences
Volume
33
Publisher
Presses universitaires de Rennes
Official URL