... der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitat Griineburgplatz 1, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main Arbeitsst... more ... der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitat Griineburgplatz 1, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main Arbeitsstelle Miinster Seminar fur Ur-und Fruhgeschichte der Westfa-lischen Wilhelms-Universitat Domplatz 20-22, D-48143 Miinster tibersetzung: Tzipora Rachel Kuper Redaktion: Beate ...
A rich assemblage of Middle Bronze Age II daggers from the Rishon le-Zion excavations in Israel w... more A rich assemblage of Middle Bronze Age II daggers from the Rishon le-Zion excavations in Israel was studied. These daggers were found to be made of tin-bronze, arsenical copper or copper with tin and arsenic. Relations between type, shape and composition are established, showing that greater control of composition and shape are directly related to the production of more stylish decorated objects.
Among the artifacts recovered in the excavations at Fassuta (see Gershuny and Aviam, this volume)... more Among the artifacts recovered in the excavations at Fassuta (see Gershuny and Aviam, this volume) were six metal items that were sampled and examined. The chemical analysis of all six artifacts was conducted by a SEM-PROBE instrument with WDS.1 Metallographic analysis was conducted on four artifacts by cutting a minute solid metal sample close to the surface. The two spearheads were found heavily corroded near the surface and therefore were drilled for chemical analysis only. The metallurgie and metallographic results are presented below and their archaeological significance is discussed. All the examined items were found as part of a funerary assemblage in Tomb 1, dated by the excavators to the transitional MB I-II (see Gershuny and Aviam, this volume).2 Details of the examined artifacts, the location of sampling and the mechanical and thermal treatment they underwent after casting, as seen in their metallography, are given in Table 1. The chemical composition of each of the metal ...
Dedicated with admiration to the ancient artisans who new exactly what they are doing and used op... more Dedicated with admiration to the ancient artisans who new exactly what they are doing and used optimally the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of their materials
The beginning of metallurgy in the ancient Near East attracts much attention. The southern Levant... more The beginning of metallurgy in the ancient Near East attracts much attention. The southern Levant, with the rich assemblage of copper artifacts from the Nahal Mishmar cave and the unique gold rings of the Nahal Qanah cave, is regarded as a main center of early metallurgy during the second half of the 5th millennium CalBC. However, a recently
The data presented here are results of a pilot project initiated by Ivan Ordentlich in 2001 on ea... more The data presented here are results of a pilot project initiated by Ivan Ordentlich in 2001 on early bronze and copper axes from the collection of the Hungarian National Museum. At the same time, a similar series of samples were analysed from Romania. Our aim is to make the data available as a starting point for comprehensive studies. Kivonat Ivan Ordentlich kezdemenyezesere 2001-ben vizsgalatokat kezdtunk a Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum gyűjtemenyeből szarmazo korai (kora bronzkori es kozepső bronzkori) bronzbaltakon. A vizsgalatokat parhuzamosan inditottuk hasonlo koru erdelyi gyűjtemenyek anyaganak vizsgalataval, azzal az elkepzelessel, hogy ez egy kesőbbi atfogo vizsgalat első lepese lehet. Jelen tanulmanyunk celja a vizsgalati eredmenyek kozreadasa, azzal a remennyel, hogy a nagyivű elkepzeles megvalosulasahoz teszunk, egy apro hozzajarulast.
A study of the luminescence properties of one of several pit features removed from the Ashkelon M... more A study of the luminescence properties of one of several pit features removed from the Ashkelon Marina EB1 (Early Bronze I) archaeological site during a 1998 excavation unequivocally determines their function in antiquity. The features are shallow (£ 50 cm) cup-shaped pits preserved in the ground. A hardened and reddened layer of earth £ 3cm thick forms the shape of each pit, and a thin layer of white calcite is observed to lie upon the hardened earth. The pit is filled with soft buff coloured, quartz-dominated sediments, indistinguishable from the sediments which underlie it. This feature, and several others at the site, are suspected to be putative fire pit installations, over which crucibles for the melting of copper had been placed. However, the lack of any direct association of copper residues or artifacts found at the site with any of the pit features leaves this hypothesis unproven. Previous investigations, which included X-ray diffraction, differ- ential thermal analysis, op...
Neutron diffraction (ND) analyses of ancient metals show that this method is capable of detecting... more Neutron diffraction (ND) analyses of ancient metals show that this method is capable of detecting differences in the inner composition and microstructure of ancient metal objects. This gives archaeometallurgists a powerful non-destructive tool to help generate a better understanding of ancient modes of production (i.e. casting direction and mechanical and thermal treatment of selected parts of the original cast). Introducing this method in Israel will allow us to study unique and precious archaeological metal artifacts that cannot be taken abroad or cut or drilled for sampling. We carried out ND measurements on two Middle Bronze Age I "Eye" axes, one made of bronze and the other of silver, both found recently in the ancient cemetery of Mahzevat Shuni. Both artefacts are rare finds with the silver axe unique in the archaeology of Israel. ND was carried out on the newly assembled KARL diffractometer at the IRR-1 at the Nuclear Research Center – Soreq, Israel. Preliminary res...
Late Chalcolithic metallurgy developed in the southern Levant simultaneously with other crafts an... more Late Chalcolithic metallurgy developed in the southern Levant simultaneously with other crafts and new social institutions, reflecting advances in social organization, cults and technology. Until recently, copper items were mostly found in the Negev and Judean Desert, while other areas, specifically the Jordan Valley, were considered poor, with limited copper finds. Recent excavations at Late Chalcolithic Fazael in the Jordan Valley yielded dozens of copper items that allow for the first time a comprehensive study of copper items from this area. The assemblage is one of the largest of any site in the Late Chalcolithic period and includes most of the known components of the Late Chalcolithic copper industry. The current paper presents the new metallurgical discoveries from the Fazael Basin and discusses their significance to our understanding of the Late Chalcolithic copper industry.
As part of the archaeological study of Nahal Amram in the ‘Araba valley, copper slag samples from... more As part of the archaeological study of Nahal Amram in the ‘Araba valley, copper slag samples from a mining camp dating from the 5th millennium BCE until the 1st millennium AD were chemically analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) in an attempt to determine the technological level of production in each of the site’s occupation. The method provides a tool to distinguish between slag of various technological phases and periods. Thus, the slags from different sites in Nahal Amram related roughly to four stages of metallurgy development. These metallurgical results indicate the reuse of slag from earlier periods in later periods in order to produce more copper from the slag as a result of more complex production methods that were available in the later periods. Thus, in Nahal Amram, we can observe a real technological development of metallurgical production from earlier to later periods based almost exclusively upon the results of slag analyses. The results were compared with other smelting sites in the region.
Abstract We present archaeozoological evidence that shed light on the economic activities underta... more Abstract We present archaeozoological evidence that shed light on the economic activities undertaken at the Early Roman site Migdal, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Israel), by analysing an animal bone assemblage recovered from the town’s industrial quarter. Focusing on the many fragmented equid bones dotted with reddish stains discovered in unique installations, we bring forth both an intra-site and inter-site study which highlights the important process of sail manufacturing in the Southern Levant during the Early Roman period.
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2005
Page 1. cEn Yahav?A Copper Smelting Site in the cArava Yuval Yekutieli Department of Bible, Archa... more Page 1. cEn Yahav?A Copper Smelting Site in the cArava Yuval Yekutieli Department of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near East Ben-Gurion University of the Negev POB 653 Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel yuvaly@bgu.ac.il Sariel ...
... der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitat Griineburgplatz 1, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main Arbeitsst... more ... der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitat Griineburgplatz 1, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main Arbeitsstelle Miinster Seminar fur Ur-und Fruhgeschichte der Westfa-lischen Wilhelms-Universitat Domplatz 20-22, D-48143 Miinster tibersetzung: Tzipora Rachel Kuper Redaktion: Beate ...
A rich assemblage of Middle Bronze Age II daggers from the Rishon le-Zion excavations in Israel w... more A rich assemblage of Middle Bronze Age II daggers from the Rishon le-Zion excavations in Israel was studied. These daggers were found to be made of tin-bronze, arsenical copper or copper with tin and arsenic. Relations between type, shape and composition are established, showing that greater control of composition and shape are directly related to the production of more stylish decorated objects.
Among the artifacts recovered in the excavations at Fassuta (see Gershuny and Aviam, this volume)... more Among the artifacts recovered in the excavations at Fassuta (see Gershuny and Aviam, this volume) were six metal items that were sampled and examined. The chemical analysis of all six artifacts was conducted by a SEM-PROBE instrument with WDS.1 Metallographic analysis was conducted on four artifacts by cutting a minute solid metal sample close to the surface. The two spearheads were found heavily corroded near the surface and therefore were drilled for chemical analysis only. The metallurgie and metallographic results are presented below and their archaeological significance is discussed. All the examined items were found as part of a funerary assemblage in Tomb 1, dated by the excavators to the transitional MB I-II (see Gershuny and Aviam, this volume).2 Details of the examined artifacts, the location of sampling and the mechanical and thermal treatment they underwent after casting, as seen in their metallography, are given in Table 1. The chemical composition of each of the metal ...
Dedicated with admiration to the ancient artisans who new exactly what they are doing and used op... more Dedicated with admiration to the ancient artisans who new exactly what they are doing and used optimally the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of their materials
The beginning of metallurgy in the ancient Near East attracts much attention. The southern Levant... more The beginning of metallurgy in the ancient Near East attracts much attention. The southern Levant, with the rich assemblage of copper artifacts from the Nahal Mishmar cave and the unique gold rings of the Nahal Qanah cave, is regarded as a main center of early metallurgy during the second half of the 5th millennium CalBC. However, a recently
The data presented here are results of a pilot project initiated by Ivan Ordentlich in 2001 on ea... more The data presented here are results of a pilot project initiated by Ivan Ordentlich in 2001 on early bronze and copper axes from the collection of the Hungarian National Museum. At the same time, a similar series of samples were analysed from Romania. Our aim is to make the data available as a starting point for comprehensive studies. Kivonat Ivan Ordentlich kezdemenyezesere 2001-ben vizsgalatokat kezdtunk a Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum gyűjtemenyeből szarmazo korai (kora bronzkori es kozepső bronzkori) bronzbaltakon. A vizsgalatokat parhuzamosan inditottuk hasonlo koru erdelyi gyűjtemenyek anyaganak vizsgalataval, azzal az elkepzelessel, hogy ez egy kesőbbi atfogo vizsgalat első lepese lehet. Jelen tanulmanyunk celja a vizsgalati eredmenyek kozreadasa, azzal a remennyel, hogy a nagyivű elkepzeles megvalosulasahoz teszunk, egy apro hozzajarulast.
A study of the luminescence properties of one of several pit features removed from the Ashkelon M... more A study of the luminescence properties of one of several pit features removed from the Ashkelon Marina EB1 (Early Bronze I) archaeological site during a 1998 excavation unequivocally determines their function in antiquity. The features are shallow (£ 50 cm) cup-shaped pits preserved in the ground. A hardened and reddened layer of earth £ 3cm thick forms the shape of each pit, and a thin layer of white calcite is observed to lie upon the hardened earth. The pit is filled with soft buff coloured, quartz-dominated sediments, indistinguishable from the sediments which underlie it. This feature, and several others at the site, are suspected to be putative fire pit installations, over which crucibles for the melting of copper had been placed. However, the lack of any direct association of copper residues or artifacts found at the site with any of the pit features leaves this hypothesis unproven. Previous investigations, which included X-ray diffraction, differ- ential thermal analysis, op...
Neutron diffraction (ND) analyses of ancient metals show that this method is capable of detecting... more Neutron diffraction (ND) analyses of ancient metals show that this method is capable of detecting differences in the inner composition and microstructure of ancient metal objects. This gives archaeometallurgists a powerful non-destructive tool to help generate a better understanding of ancient modes of production (i.e. casting direction and mechanical and thermal treatment of selected parts of the original cast). Introducing this method in Israel will allow us to study unique and precious archaeological metal artifacts that cannot be taken abroad or cut or drilled for sampling. We carried out ND measurements on two Middle Bronze Age I "Eye" axes, one made of bronze and the other of silver, both found recently in the ancient cemetery of Mahzevat Shuni. Both artefacts are rare finds with the silver axe unique in the archaeology of Israel. ND was carried out on the newly assembled KARL diffractometer at the IRR-1 at the Nuclear Research Center – Soreq, Israel. Preliminary res...
Late Chalcolithic metallurgy developed in the southern Levant simultaneously with other crafts an... more Late Chalcolithic metallurgy developed in the southern Levant simultaneously with other crafts and new social institutions, reflecting advances in social organization, cults and technology. Until recently, copper items were mostly found in the Negev and Judean Desert, while other areas, specifically the Jordan Valley, were considered poor, with limited copper finds. Recent excavations at Late Chalcolithic Fazael in the Jordan Valley yielded dozens of copper items that allow for the first time a comprehensive study of copper items from this area. The assemblage is one of the largest of any site in the Late Chalcolithic period and includes most of the known components of the Late Chalcolithic copper industry. The current paper presents the new metallurgical discoveries from the Fazael Basin and discusses their significance to our understanding of the Late Chalcolithic copper industry.
As part of the archaeological study of Nahal Amram in the ‘Araba valley, copper slag samples from... more As part of the archaeological study of Nahal Amram in the ‘Araba valley, copper slag samples from a mining camp dating from the 5th millennium BCE until the 1st millennium AD were chemically analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) in an attempt to determine the technological level of production in each of the site’s occupation. The method provides a tool to distinguish between slag of various technological phases and periods. Thus, the slags from different sites in Nahal Amram related roughly to four stages of metallurgy development. These metallurgical results indicate the reuse of slag from earlier periods in later periods in order to produce more copper from the slag as a result of more complex production methods that were available in the later periods. Thus, in Nahal Amram, we can observe a real technological development of metallurgical production from earlier to later periods based almost exclusively upon the results of slag analyses. The results were compared with other smelting sites in the region.
Abstract We present archaeozoological evidence that shed light on the economic activities underta... more Abstract We present archaeozoological evidence that shed light on the economic activities undertaken at the Early Roman site Migdal, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Israel), by analysing an animal bone assemblage recovered from the town’s industrial quarter. Focusing on the many fragmented equid bones dotted with reddish stains discovered in unique installations, we bring forth both an intra-site and inter-site study which highlights the important process of sail manufacturing in the Southern Levant during the Early Roman period.
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2005
Page 1. cEn Yahav?A Copper Smelting Site in the cArava Yuval Yekutieli Department of Bible, Archa... more Page 1. cEn Yahav?A Copper Smelting Site in the cArava Yuval Yekutieli Department of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near East Ben-Gurion University of the Negev POB 653 Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel yuvaly@bgu.ac.il Sariel ...
The composition of the lead inclusions in modern and ancient leaded tin-bronzes dated from the 4t... more The composition of the lead inclusions in modern and ancient leaded tin-bronzes dated from the 4th century B.C.E. to the 14th century C.E. was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The lead lattice parameter measured by XRD gives quantitative information about the composition of lead inclusions provided that the lead and tin form a substitutional solid solution. It was found, in particular, that lead inclusions in samples of modern bronze might contain as far as 3 or more atomic % of tin. This value agrees well with a maximum solved tin concentration of 2% derived from the generally accepted Pb-Sn phase diagram by the extrapolation of high temperature data. At the same time, it was revealed that in lead inclusions in samples of ancient bronze the tin content is about 1%. This observation indicates that the generally accepted Pb-Sn phase diagram does not correspond to a true equilibrium state. As a result of Sn diffusion out of lead inclusions, the Pb-Sn solid solution gets closer to the equilibrium state in times on the order of centuries. Thus, distinguishing ancient from modern leaded tin-bronzes according to the tin concentration in their lead inclusions is indeed possible. It seems that the described phenomenon can also be used to distinguish real ancient artifacts from modern counterfeits.
A presentation about: The Chalcolithic Metals Enigma: 50 years of
research and part of the myster... more A presentation about: The Chalcolithic Metals Enigma: 50 years of research and part of the mystery still unsolved… presented in Aharoni day conference at T.A. Univ. 8.3.18
Tell el-Dab'a Ribbed dagger 66, RL, 6084 after conservation Clean tip (208Hv): XRF: 10 Sn + 1.5 P... more Tell el-Dab'a Ribbed dagger 66, RL, 6084 after conservation Clean tip (208Hv): XRF: 10 Sn + 1.5 Pb + tr. As WDS: 9.4 Sn + 0.6 Pb + 0.2 As Clean 'shoulder' (149Hv): WDS:10.1 Sn + 1.4 Pb + 0.2 As Clean centre: XRF: 19 Sn + 4.5 Pb + tr. As A possible casting inhomogeneity versus blade hammering and annealing.
What happened to a metal nail at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea.
The story of excavating a s... more What happened to a metal nail at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea. The story of excavating a shipwreck from the Persian Period, circa 2400 years old, near Ma’agan Michael.
Craft specialization and organization of metal production in the Bible
and in archaeo - metallurg... more Craft specialization and organization of metal production in the Bible and in archaeo - metallurgical research
"ZOOMING-IN" with compositional XRF analysis:
is there a limit? The case of Middle Bronze Age dag... more "ZOOMING-IN" with compositional XRF analysis: is there a limit? The case of Middle Bronze Age daggers in the Levant
Observations on South Levantine Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age metallurgy. The Transition from... more Observations on South Levantine Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age metallurgy. The Transition from Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze in southern Levant: Continuity or Discontinuity?
Dedicated with admiration to the ancient artisans who new exactly what they are doing and used op... more Dedicated with admiration to the ancient artisans who new exactly what they are doing and used optimally the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of their materials
Ben-Yosef, E. /MINING FOR ANCIENT COPPER Essays in Memory of Beno Rothenberg, 2018
Ancient copper mines at Nahal >Amram were first discovered by IDF soldiers in 1949, then visited ... more Ancient copper mines at Nahal >Amram were first discovered by IDF soldiers in 1949, then visited by N. Glueck in 1950, surveyed by B. Rothenberg during the 1960s and by L. Willies in 1988. In 2010, the authors began a new, multidisciplinary study supported by the Israel Ministry of Science. The archaeological survey recorded in detail the previously discovered mines but uncovered many others, as well as related sites. The main periods of mining were the Late Bronze and Iron Ages (15th to 10th centuries BCE), the Nabataean-Byzantine (1st to 5th centuries CE) and the Early Islamic (7th to 11th centuries CE). The survey and limited excavations yielded ample finds, while additional scientific studies (geological-geomorphological survey, ground penetrating radar, 3D scanning and a variety of chemical analyses) revealed much new information as to the history and technology of the ancient copper industries in the Arabah Valley.
Ancient copper mines at Nahal >Amram were first discovered by IDF soldiers in 1949, then visited ... more Ancient copper mines at Nahal >Amram were first discovered by IDF soldiers in 1949, then visited by N. Glueck in 1950, surveyed by B. Rothenberg during the 1960s and by L. Willies in 1988. In 2010, the authors began a new, multidisciplinary study supported by the Israel Ministry of Science. The archaeological survey recorded in detail the previously discovered mines but uncovered many others, as well as related sites. The main periods of mining were the Late Bronze and Iron Ages (15th to 10th centuries BCE), the Nabataean-Byzantine (1st to 5th centuries CE) and the Early Islamic (7th to 11th centuries CE). The survey and limited excavations yielded ample finds, while additional scientific studies (geological-geomorphological survey, ground penetrating radar, 3D scanning and a variety of chemical analyses) revealed much new information as to the history and technology of the ancient copper industries in the Arabah Valley.
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Papers by sariel shalev
The lead lattice parameter measured by XRD gives quantitative information about the composition of lead inclusions provided that the lead and tin form a substitutional solid solution.
It was found, in particular, that lead inclusions in samples of modern bronze might contain as far as 3 or more atomic % of tin. This value agrees well with a maximum solved tin concentration of 2% derived from the generally accepted Pb-Sn phase diagram by the extrapolation of high temperature data.
At the same time, it was revealed that in lead inclusions in samples of ancient bronze the tin content is about 1%. This observation indicates that the generally accepted Pb-Sn phase diagram does not correspond to a true equilibrium state. As a result of Sn diffusion out of lead inclusions, the Pb-Sn solid solution gets closer to the equilibrium state in times on the order of centuries.
Thus, distinguishing ancient from modern leaded tin-bronzes according to the tin concentration in their lead inclusions is indeed possible. It seems that the described phenomenon can also be used to distinguish real ancient artifacts from modern counterfeits.
research and part of the mystery still unsolved… presented in Aharoni day conference at T.A. Univ. 8.3.18
The story of excavating a shipwreck from the Persian Period, circa 2400 years old, near Ma’agan Michael.
and in archaeo - metallurgical research
is there a limit? The case of Middle Bronze Age daggers in the Levant