Characterisation and Analysis of Metallic Artefacts from the Pylos Archaeological Museum. Issue 2 (15th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kylafi, M.; Katakos, A.; Boyatzis, S.; Palamara, E.; Zacharias, N.
• Is Part Of: Science and technology of archaeological research. Volume 3:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 161
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2017-12-15
• Subjects: Hellenistic -- Pylos -- SEM/EDS -- FTIR -- ancient stylus; Archaeology -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 930.10721
• DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2018.1456742
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-8923

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The present study focuses on the analysis of four unique artefacts, originally recovered from a tomb complex of the Hellenistic period and now displayed at the New Pylos Archaeological Museum, Niokastro fortress of Pylos, Greece (since 2016). The items are rod-shaped, with a length between 5.5 and 14.6 cm and intricate decorative patterns. The rods were analysed following a multi-technique, non-invasive approach, using optical microscopy, XRF, SEM/EDS and FTIR. The analysis suggests that the three brown rods are made of wrought iron; successive areas of calcite crystal formations are associated with environmental depositions and corrosion defects. The white rod shows distinctly different chemical characteristics: it is composed of a thick core identified as bone and covered by a thin layer of lead. The combined microscopic, chemical and spectroscopic analysis resulted in the chemical characterisation of the artefacts and thus in a better understanding of their properties. In turn, the analysis has lead to hypotheses for the likely function of these unique artefacts (i.e. three writing implements and one decorative hinge).