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Analytical study of Bronze Age goldwork from Northwest Iberia

2021; Elsevier BV; Volume: 39; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103117

2352-4103

Maria Guerra, Isabel Tıssot,

Archaeological Research and Protection

The production of goldwork in Northwest Iberia in the Bronze Age was approached in this work by studying seven bracelets and two sheet collars (gargantilha de tiras) from different sites located in Galicia (Spain) in the collection of the Provincial Museum of Lugo. Among the studied objects are the two sheet collars and one bracelet that constitute the Treasure of Monte dos Mouros and the two bracelets from the Treasure of A Urdiñeira. The in-situ study has included the observation of the manufacture details of the objects under a stereomicroscope and the determination of their elemental composition using an in-house built portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Data obtained provided new insight into the objects, revealing the use of traditional Bronze Age technologies and for some of them new manufacturing details. One of the bracelets from A Urdiñeira has a two-phase decoration and signs of wear, unlike the necklaces from Monte dos Mouros, which have no signs of wear. To put the objects in their context and shed new light on questions related to the chronology of some of them, the elemental compositions obtained are compared with data published for other gold objects from Galicia. This comparison shows the regular use of native gold as well as the use of intentional gold alloys whose composition indicates two different (possibly chronological) types of production.