Archaeometallurgy in Ancient Mesoamerica, Jan 13, 2013
The advent of metallurgy in Mesoamerica followed millennia of non-metallic tool and ornament prod... more The advent of metallurgy in Mesoamerica followed millennia of non-metallic tool and ornament production, during which time sophisticated lithic, ceramic and other material traditions grew and changed throughout the region. In contrast, metal objects appear late in Mesoamerican history and metallurgy developed over a considerably shorter span of time, probably just several centuries. The first copper and alloyed copper objects were produced in West Mexico sometime between AD 600-650 (Hosler 1994) and copper was the predominant metal used throughout ancient Mesoamerica.
While it appears that metal never fully replaced stone, bone or shell for either utilitarian or non-utilitarian purposes, metal objects had clearly been embraced by some Mesoamerican peoples during late precolumbian times (Bray 1971, 1977; Hosler 1994, 2004; Maldonado 2003; Paris 2008; Pendergast 1961; Simmons 2005; Simmons and Shugar 2008). Despite calls more than three decades ago (Bray 1971, 1977; Pendergast 1961) for more intensive study of this important technological innovation, metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica is still not very well understood.
Fortunately, this situation is changing. In the last decade a number of researchers have begun to address various social, economic and technological aspects of metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica. This volume aims to highlight the work of a new generation of anthropologists and archaeologists engaged in this research. In this volume we present current approaches to the study of archaeometallurgy in Middle America as well as new perspectives on the significance of metallurgy in the lives of ancient Mesoamericans. The papers in the volume were presented in a Society for American Archaeology symposium held on March 28, 2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia entitled “Current Archaeometallurgical Research in Mesoamerica: New Approaches, Discoveries and Perspectives.”
A central theme of this volume is exploration of the varied social contexts in which metallurgical traditions were organized in ancient Mesoamerica. Specifically, authors examine the ways metallurgy and metal objects were integrated into the multifaceted social and cultural realms of ancient Mesoamerican peoples. Using different theoretical, methodological and interdisciplinary perspectives, the papers here focus on archaeometallurgical investigations that are currently being conducted throughout Middle America. While perspectives may differ the work of each of the volume’s authors is firmly grounded in an anthropologically informed understanding of the past.
Scientific technical studies can provide detailed and very useful information on metallurgical technologies, activities and use. Although discussions of the technological aspects of mining and metallurgy are necessary, particularly since there is still much we do not understand about metallurgical technologies in ancient Mesoamerica, such discussions are seen here as contributing to a larger discourse on the social significance of ancient Mesoamerican metallurgy. Information derived from such analyses is used by the authors of this volume as one method to enhance our understanding of the roles that metal objects played in the larger complex social milieu of ancient Mesoamerican life.
A variety of alternative sources have been used to inform researchers’ perspectives on the ways metal objects were regarded and used in the multi-layered sacred and material worlds of ancient Mesoamericans. Data obtained from archaeological investigations, ethnohistoric sources, ethnographic studies, as well as materials science analyses, are brought to bear on questions related to the integration of metallurgy into local and regional economies, the sacred connotations of copper objects, metallurgy as specialized crafting, and the nature of mining, alloy technology and metal fabrication, among others.
Several authors, including Elizabeth Paris, Carlos Peraza, Laura Richardson Aaron Shugar, Ed Schortman, Patricia Urban, Aaron Shugar, Scott Simmons and John Weeks, examine Postclassic and Spanish Colonial Period archaeological remains of ancient Maya metallurgy in Yucatan, Mexico, western Honduras, northern Belize and western Guatemala. Their studies explore the various contexts in which copper artifacts and production features are found as well as ancient production technologies and the social significance copper held in the lives of the people who made and used them. Hans Roskamp reviews 16th century ethnohistorical sources of information on the sacred origins of Tarascan metallurgy in the West Mexican state of Michoacán. Niklas Schulze presents data and interpretations derived from materials analyses, including geochemical composition and fabrication methods, of copper bells recovered from the Templo Mayor in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Blanca Maldonado provides an overview of recent archaeological, ethnographic and ethnohistorical studies of ancient mining and metallurgy in West Mexico. Dorothy Hosler contributes a concluding chapter wherein she remarks on the contributions current research efforts have had toward illuminating the nature of metallurgical traditions in ancient Mesoamerican societies.
The volume has 9 chapters, including an introduction to the volume. Seven of these chapters are from symposium participants and one is an invited paper by John Weeks. The final chapter of the volume is written by Dorothy Hosler, who could not attend the symposium. Her pioneering work in the field of Mesoamerican archaeometallurgy, which has now spanned over two decades, has informed and inspired the work of many of the symposium’s participants; her contribution is more synthetic in nature.
A multinational group of scholars contribute to this volume. These researchers are from the United States (Dorothy Hosler, Elizabeth Paris, Laura Richardson, Ed Schortman, Scott Simmons, Patricia Urban and John Weeks), Canada (Aaron Shugar), Mexico (Blanca Maldonado and Carlos Peraza Lope), Germany (Niklas Shulze) and the Netherlands (Hans Roskamp). The volume will include papers from every nation in Mesoamerica, with the exception of El Salvador."
Uncertainty for laboratory instrumentation adheres to the general guide for uncertainty in measur... more Uncertainty for laboratory instrumentation adheres to the general guide for uncertainty in measurement (GUM). However, portable X-ray fluorescence technology does not lend itself comfortably to the GUM framework for two reasons: calibration models are often kept proprietary by manufacturers and uncertainty is needed on single observation measurements. The present chapter outlines an approach that is feasible across instrumentation, regardless of whether calibration methods are disclosed. In addition, a review of quantitative and qualitative uncertainty is provided for reference.
Aluminum: History, Technology, and Conservation: Proceedings from the 2014 International Conference. (eds) Claudia Chemello, Malcolm Collum, Paul Mardikian, Joseph Sembrat, Lisa Young, 2019
Subliming Surfaces: Volatile Binding Media in Heritage Conservation, 2018
Cyclododecane (CDD) is commonly used in the eld of conservation as a temporary consolidant for fr... more Cyclododecane (CDD) is commonly used in the eld of conservation as a temporary consolidant for fragile materials and painted surfaces. Applied as either a hot melt or dissolved in solvent, the volatile binder will solidify, forming elongated crystals; the crystal size depends on the time the CDD takes to set, the application method(s) employed and the atmospheric conditions at the location of application. Normally, CDD will sublime from surfaces of an artefact within a matter of weeks or months (de-pending on its thickness and local environmental conditions), but if wrapped in airtight packaging, it will remain more or less intact on the artefact. However, it has been observed that over time the CDD crystals appear more granular in shape, while the lm becomes less wax-like in appearance. It also appears that the CDD crystals are mobile, and once sublimed they can re-deposit on surrounding packaging materials within airtight enclosures. Concern has been expressed that the growth, uctuating size, and re-deposition of CDD crystals on and within a fragile porous substrate may exert pressure within pores and cracks, causing micro-damage to the artefact that it is meant to be supporting. The objective of this project is to observe the formation and changing structure of CDD crystals and their e ect on painted porous surfaces. To investigate the interaction of CDD with absorbent and weak substrates, mock-ups of fragile painted plaster were prepared using coarse quartz sand, gypsum powder and calcium carbonate, loosely bound with animal glue on wooden supports. Pigment loosely bound in gum arabic was painted onto the surface of the plaster. CDD was applied to each of the mock-ups as either a hot melt or dissolved in Stoddard solvent. Sublimation of the CDD was controlled by placing the mock-ups within polyethy-lene enclosures in order to restrict air movement around them. The temperature within the enclosure was uctuated in order to encourage sublima-tion and re-deposition of crystals. Time-lapse mi-crophotography recorded the behaviour of the CDD crystals regularly over a span of six weeks. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy were utilised before application and after sublimation of CDD to characterise the surface morphology and porosity of the substrate, and to observe any damage that the CDD crystals may have caused to the surface of the artefact. Three computations were used in conjuction with confocal microscopy in order to analyse the topographic deviations caused by CDD interaction: surface subtraction, pro le extraction, and horizontal contour extraction. Surface subtraction indicated an average change in surface topography totalling-µm. Pro le extraction revealed minute surface variation due to CDD interaction, and horizontal contour extraction revealed alteration in particle morphology. SEM imaging revealed that CDD crystal formation extended cracks and caused cleavage or lifting of the ground layer. It was concluded that CDD may be altering the original surface of the samples by widening pre-existing cracks, altering particle morphology, and inducing minor elevation changes in the overall topography. However, it does not impart a new texture to the plaster nor does it appear to cause new or original cracks in the substrate. Subliming Surfaces: Volatile Binding Media in Heritage Conservation
Ben-Yosef, E. and Goren, Y. (eds.): Mining for Copper: Essays in Honor of Professor Beno Rothenberg, 2018
Copper ores from the Ghassulian Beersheva site of Abu Matar were investigated for their mineralog... more Copper ores from the Ghassulian Beersheva site of Abu Matar were investigated for their mineralogy, micro-chemistry and lead isotope ratios. The results indicate that the majority of the ores excavated on site correspond with the mining site of Feinan. An additional ore type does not correspond with Feinan and offers closer association with ore formations in Anatolia and the Cuasases.
Archaeometallurgy in Ancient Mesoamerica, Jan 13, 2013
The advent of metallurgy in Mesoamerica followed millennia of non-metallic tool and ornament prod... more The advent of metallurgy in Mesoamerica followed millennia of non-metallic tool and ornament production, during which time sophisticated lithic, ceramic and other material traditions grew and changed throughout the region. In contrast, metal objects appear late in Mesoamerican history and metallurgy developed over a considerably shorter span of time, probably just several centuries. The first copper and alloyed copper objects were produced in West Mexico sometime between AD 600-650 (Hosler 1994) and copper was the predominant metal used throughout ancient Mesoamerica.
While it appears that metal never fully replaced stone, bone or shell for either utilitarian or non-utilitarian purposes, metal objects had clearly been embraced by some Mesoamerican peoples during late precolumbian times (Bray 1971, 1977; Hosler 1994, 2004; Maldonado 2003; Paris 2008; Pendergast 1961; Simmons 2005; Simmons and Shugar 2008). Despite calls more than three decades ago (Bray 1971, 1977; Pendergast 1961) for more intensive study of this important technological innovation, metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica is still not very well understood.
Fortunately, this situation is changing. In the last decade a number of researchers have begun to address various social, economic and technological aspects of metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica. This volume aims to highlight the work of a new generation of anthropologists and archaeologists engaged in this research. In this volume we present current approaches to the study of archaeometallurgy in Middle America as well as new perspectives on the significance of metallurgy in the lives of ancient Mesoamericans. The papers in the volume were presented in a Society for American Archaeology symposium held on March 28, 2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia entitled “Current Archaeometallurgical Research in Mesoamerica: New Approaches, Discoveries and Perspectives.”
A central theme of this volume is exploration of the varied social contexts in which metallurgical traditions were organized in ancient Mesoamerica. Specifically, authors examine the ways metallurgy and metal objects were integrated into the multifaceted social and cultural realms of ancient Mesoamerican peoples. Using different theoretical, methodological and interdisciplinary perspectives, the papers here focus on archaeometallurgical investigations that are currently being conducted throughout Middle America. While perspectives may differ the work of each of the volume’s authors is firmly grounded in an anthropologically informed understanding of the past.
Scientific technical studies can provide detailed and very useful information on metallurgical technologies, activities and use. Although discussions of the technological aspects of mining and metallurgy are necessary, particularly since there is still much we do not understand about metallurgical technologies in ancient Mesoamerica, such discussions are seen here as contributing to a larger discourse on the social significance of ancient Mesoamerican metallurgy. Information derived from such analyses is used by the authors of this volume as one method to enhance our understanding of the roles that metal objects played in the larger complex social milieu of ancient Mesoamerican life.
A variety of alternative sources have been used to inform researchers’ perspectives on the ways metal objects were regarded and used in the multi-layered sacred and material worlds of ancient Mesoamericans. Data obtained from archaeological investigations, ethnohistoric sources, ethnographic studies, as well as materials science analyses, are brought to bear on questions related to the integration of metallurgy into local and regional economies, the sacred connotations of copper objects, metallurgy as specialized crafting, and the nature of mining, alloy technology and metal fabrication, among others.
Several authors, including Elizabeth Paris, Carlos Peraza, Laura Richardson Aaron Shugar, Ed Schortman, Patricia Urban, Aaron Shugar, Scott Simmons and John Weeks, examine Postclassic and Spanish Colonial Period archaeological remains of ancient Maya metallurgy in Yucatan, Mexico, western Honduras, northern Belize and western Guatemala. Their studies explore the various contexts in which copper artifacts and production features are found as well as ancient production technologies and the social significance copper held in the lives of the people who made and used them. Hans Roskamp reviews 16th century ethnohistorical sources of information on the sacred origins of Tarascan metallurgy in the West Mexican state of Michoacán. Niklas Schulze presents data and interpretations derived from materials analyses, including geochemical composition and fabrication methods, of copper bells recovered from the Templo Mayor in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Blanca Maldonado provides an overview of recent archaeological, ethnographic and ethnohistorical studies of ancient mining and metallurgy in West Mexico. Dorothy Hosler contributes a concluding chapter wherein she remarks on the contributions current research efforts have had toward illuminating the nature of metallurgical traditions in ancient Mesoamerican societies.
The volume has 9 chapters, including an introduction to the volume. Seven of these chapters are from symposium participants and one is an invited paper by John Weeks. The final chapter of the volume is written by Dorothy Hosler, who could not attend the symposium. Her pioneering work in the field of Mesoamerican archaeometallurgy, which has now spanned over two decades, has informed and inspired the work of many of the symposium’s participants; her contribution is more synthetic in nature.
A multinational group of scholars contribute to this volume. These researchers are from the United States (Dorothy Hosler, Elizabeth Paris, Laura Richardson, Ed Schortman, Scott Simmons, Patricia Urban and John Weeks), Canada (Aaron Shugar), Mexico (Blanca Maldonado and Carlos Peraza Lope), Germany (Niklas Shulze) and the Netherlands (Hans Roskamp). The volume will include papers from every nation in Mesoamerica, with the exception of El Salvador."
Uncertainty for laboratory instrumentation adheres to the general guide for uncertainty in measur... more Uncertainty for laboratory instrumentation adheres to the general guide for uncertainty in measurement (GUM). However, portable X-ray fluorescence technology does not lend itself comfortably to the GUM framework for two reasons: calibration models are often kept proprietary by manufacturers and uncertainty is needed on single observation measurements. The present chapter outlines an approach that is feasible across instrumentation, regardless of whether calibration methods are disclosed. In addition, a review of quantitative and qualitative uncertainty is provided for reference.
Aluminum: History, Technology, and Conservation: Proceedings from the 2014 International Conference. (eds) Claudia Chemello, Malcolm Collum, Paul Mardikian, Joseph Sembrat, Lisa Young, 2019
Subliming Surfaces: Volatile Binding Media in Heritage Conservation, 2018
Cyclododecane (CDD) is commonly used in the eld of conservation as a temporary consolidant for fr... more Cyclododecane (CDD) is commonly used in the eld of conservation as a temporary consolidant for fragile materials and painted surfaces. Applied as either a hot melt or dissolved in solvent, the volatile binder will solidify, forming elongated crystals; the crystal size depends on the time the CDD takes to set, the application method(s) employed and the atmospheric conditions at the location of application. Normally, CDD will sublime from surfaces of an artefact within a matter of weeks or months (de-pending on its thickness and local environmental conditions), but if wrapped in airtight packaging, it will remain more or less intact on the artefact. However, it has been observed that over time the CDD crystals appear more granular in shape, while the lm becomes less wax-like in appearance. It also appears that the CDD crystals are mobile, and once sublimed they can re-deposit on surrounding packaging materials within airtight enclosures. Concern has been expressed that the growth, uctuating size, and re-deposition of CDD crystals on and within a fragile porous substrate may exert pressure within pores and cracks, causing micro-damage to the artefact that it is meant to be supporting. The objective of this project is to observe the formation and changing structure of CDD crystals and their e ect on painted porous surfaces. To investigate the interaction of CDD with absorbent and weak substrates, mock-ups of fragile painted plaster were prepared using coarse quartz sand, gypsum powder and calcium carbonate, loosely bound with animal glue on wooden supports. Pigment loosely bound in gum arabic was painted onto the surface of the plaster. CDD was applied to each of the mock-ups as either a hot melt or dissolved in Stoddard solvent. Sublimation of the CDD was controlled by placing the mock-ups within polyethy-lene enclosures in order to restrict air movement around them. The temperature within the enclosure was uctuated in order to encourage sublima-tion and re-deposition of crystals. Time-lapse mi-crophotography recorded the behaviour of the CDD crystals regularly over a span of six weeks. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy were utilised before application and after sublimation of CDD to characterise the surface morphology and porosity of the substrate, and to observe any damage that the CDD crystals may have caused to the surface of the artefact. Three computations were used in conjuction with confocal microscopy in order to analyse the topographic deviations caused by CDD interaction: surface subtraction, pro le extraction, and horizontal contour extraction. Surface subtraction indicated an average change in surface topography totalling-µm. Pro le extraction revealed minute surface variation due to CDD interaction, and horizontal contour extraction revealed alteration in particle morphology. SEM imaging revealed that CDD crystal formation extended cracks and caused cleavage or lifting of the ground layer. It was concluded that CDD may be altering the original surface of the samples by widening pre-existing cracks, altering particle morphology, and inducing minor elevation changes in the overall topography. However, it does not impart a new texture to the plaster nor does it appear to cause new or original cracks in the substrate. Subliming Surfaces: Volatile Binding Media in Heritage Conservation
Ben-Yosef, E. and Goren, Y. (eds.): Mining for Copper: Essays in Honor of Professor Beno Rothenberg, 2018
Copper ores from the Ghassulian Beersheva site of Abu Matar were investigated for their mineralog... more Copper ores from the Ghassulian Beersheva site of Abu Matar were investigated for their mineralogy, micro-chemistry and lead isotope ratios. The results indicate that the majority of the ores excavated on site correspond with the mining site of Feinan. An additional ore type does not correspond with Feinan and offers closer association with ore formations in Anatolia and the Cuasases.
Shugar, A., and Gohm, C. J. “Developmental Trends in Chalcolithic Copper Metallurgy: A Radiometric Perspective” in: Culture, Chronology and the Chalcolithic: Theory and Transition Council of British Research in the Levant, Edited by J. Lovell and Y. M. Rowan. Oxford: Oxbow Books pg. 133-148, 2011
The mechanical properties of intermetallic compounds in the Au–Sn system were investigated by nan... more The mechanical properties of intermetallic compounds in the Au–Sn system were investigated by nanoindentation. Measurements of hardness and elastic modulus were obtained for all of the confirmed room-temperature intermetallics in this system as well as the β phase (8 at.% Sn) and AuSn4. Overall, it was found that the Au–Sn compounds have lower hardness and stiffness than common Cu–Sn compounds found in solder joints. This finding is in contrast to common knowledge of “Au embrittlement” due to the formation of either AuSn4 or (Au,Ni)Sn4 intermetallic compounds. This difference in understanding of mechanical properties of these phases and the resulting joint strength is discussed in terms of reliability and possible failure mechanisms related to interface strength or microstructural effects. Indentation creep measurements performed on Au5Sn, Au–Sn eutectic (29 at.% Sn) and AuSn indicate that these alloys are significantly more creep resistant than common soft solders, in keeping with typical observations of actual joint performance.
Results Initial findings have shown that time is a decisive factor in glass formation when meltin... more Results Initial findings have shown that time is a decisive factor in glass formation when melting different batch compositions of the same theoretical liquidus temperature but moving along the contour line from the soda rich equilibrium trough to the silica rich equilibrium ...
Conservation Science Education Online (CSEO) is a new online resource that shares strategies for ... more Conservation Science Education Online (CSEO) is a new online resource that shares strategies for teaching science in art conservation and related cultural heritage fields. An overview will be given of how undergraduate chemistry curricula in the United States have used examples from cultural heritage. The field of art conservation will then be described with an emphasis on the science curricula taught in art conservation programs around the world. Challenges include relating theoretical learning to real-world applications and teaching scientific terminology and concepts to students who may have limited science backgrounds; as well, there is a lack of textbooks and resources with appropriate case studies. The newly launched CSEO online resource offers freely available, effective teaching methods in the form of modules developed by international educators in the field. The inaugural CSEO Conference 2022 served as an introduction to the online resource for a global audience and was the...
Conservation Science Education Online (CSEO) is a new online resource that shares strategies for ... more Conservation Science Education Online (CSEO) is a new online resource that shares strategies for teaching science in art conservation and related cultural heritage fields. An overview will be given of how undergraduate chemistry curricula in the United States have used examples from cultural heritage. The field of art conservation will then be described with an emphasis on the science curricula taught in art conservation programs around the world. Challenges include relating theoretical learning to real-world applications and teaching scientific terminology and concepts to students who may have limited science backgrounds; as well, there is a lack of textbooks and resources with appropriate case studies. The newly launched CSEO online resource offers freely available, effective teaching methods in the form of modules developed by international educators in the field. The inaugural CSEO Conference 2022 served as an introduction to the online resource for a global audience and was the first dedicated conference to bring together heritage science educators to discuss challenges and teaching strategies with the goal of building such a resource. The conference facilitated discussions among participants about teaching strategies, with the intention that these topics would become modules for the online resource, available to all science educators.
Disclaimer: Information on materials is provided only to assist the reader. Mention of a product ... more Disclaimer: Information on materials is provided only to assist the reader. Mention of a product or company does not in any way imply endorsement by the Canadian Conservation Institute. The conference papers are reproduced, published, and distributed by the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) under licence from the copyright holders. They are published by CCI as a service to the cultural heritage community and are not necessarily reflective of the policies, practices, or opinions of the Department of Canadian Heritage or the Government of Canada. Article publié initialement dans: Institut canadien de conservation. Préserver le patrimoine autochtone: approches techniques et traditionnelles (sous la direction de Carole Dignard,
The remarkable homogeneity of two of the major groups of ancient glasses over vast geographical r... more The remarkable homogeneity of two of the major groups of ancient glasses over vast geographical regions and across chronological periods was recognized from the beginning of systematic chemical studies, but has remained relatively unexplained (1,2). Chemical analyses have mainly been used as a descriptive tool to characterize different groups of glasses. Successful attempts have been made to provenance Medieval and later potash-based glasses based on chemical composition. The more ancient soda-lime silica based glasses have proven more difficult to provenance, probably due to the fact that their base glass compositions (3) are so tightly grouped. Based on this tight compositional grouping, it has been suggested that very few glass making centres existed in ancient times and a strict formula for glass production was adhered to. It follows that across the entire eastern Mediterranean and into Mesopotamia, a conservative technology was used to produce glass, with raw materials and meth...
Issues in traditional cross-section sampling of paintings and other cultural artifacts with a sca... more Issues in traditional cross-section sampling of paintings and other cultural artifacts with a scalpel, such as crumbling, delamination and paint compression, can deter conservators from sampling fragile paint layers. Often, such sampling carries the risk of causing further damage from a scalpel, which outweighs the benefits of scientific investigation. Here, we show that femtosecond lasers offer a viable alternative to obtaining cross-sections with minimal damage to the surrounding artwork. A Regenerative Ti:Sapphire amplifier system with a pulse duration of 70 femtoseconds, a few milliwatts of average power and a repetition rate of 1 kHz (1000 pulses/sec) was used for the study. Tests were performed on oil paintings ranging in age from the 19th century to late 20th century. Effective settings were determined to be 2 mW of power at a speed of 10mm/sec using an 800nm laser. Preliminary results suggest femtosecond lasers could be a viable alternative for obtaining paint cross-sections...
Daylight fluorescent artists’ colors have been well established as fugitive. Upon exposure to lig... more Daylight fluorescent artists’ colors have been well established as fugitive. Upon exposure to light, these vibrant colors can fade and exhibit color shifts. Artwork containing these fluorescent colorants presents complex challenges for art conservators faced with conserving these inherently problematic materials. This paper examined nine fluorescent colorants obtained from Kremer Pigmente, referred to the previous literature and research, and attempted to quantify the visual and photographic observations of fading and color changes. It provides additional information that could be useful in considering conservation documentation and treatment. Fiber optic spectroscopy using ultraviolet and visible light sources was used to measure the spectral shifts of the colorants before and after exposure to light. The fluorescent colors exhibited alterations in intensity coupled with primary peak shifts in the spectrum corresponding to the optical fading and color shifts. Multimodal imaging was...
MA-XRF scanning has become a staple for the technical study of paintings. Initially undertaken us... more MA-XRF scanning has become a staple for the technical study of paintings. Initially undertaken using high flux synchrotron sources, this technology has advanced allowing for lab-based systems to be developed, both in house (i.e. The National Gallery of Art, USA) and commercially (Bruker M6 Jetstream). The use of handheld XRF to perform macro scanning has typically been limited by the relatively large beam spot size and the speed of collection. Early attempts were successful at scanning on a relatively small scale (~10x10cm). Newer advancements have allowed for larger scan areas (30x40cm using the DeWitt MPS-400) which can be stitched together to create a full field scan. Currently, the smallest beam size offered by manufacturers is 1mm. The advancement presented here focus on the development of small beam collimators with increased photon output. Collimators have been developed with as low as a 0.47mm diameter bore. Making additional alterations to the shape of the collimator has resulted in improved signal per pixel at a sub millimeter resolution revealing more detail than previously allowed using handheld XRF instruments. This has potential implications for scanning archaeological samples, smaller artifacts, illuminated manuscripts and philately.
Zinc orange is a rare and generally undocumented artists’ pigment lost in the history. Only one s... more Zinc orange is a rare and generally undocumented artists’ pigment lost in the history. Only one sentence is devoted to it in George Field’s 1869 Chromatography: “…when hydrochloric acid and zinc are made to act on nitro-prusside of sodium, a corresponding zinc compound is formed of a deep orange colour, slightly soluble in water, and not permanent”1. The focus of this project was to investigate how zinc orange was manufactured, as described by Field’s Chromatography. Various ratios of the listed ingredients metallic zinc, hydrochloric acid, and sodium nitroprusside were attempted. Different methods of processing the resulting pigments were tested, including heating, grinding, and washing. Additionally, artificial aging was performed to test the light stability of the pigment.
The removal of copper corrosion stains within plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) are of concern to ... more The removal of copper corrosion stains within plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) are of concern to both conservators the collectors of popular vinyl dolls. Dolls such as Barbie™ and Dawn® include copper alloys as decorative elements or internal armatures which overtime may create stains within the plastic. Where the conservation field is hesitant to implement interventive treatment of plastics, public collectors are actively trying treatment methods employing common acne topical gels. Two gels were tested according to public methods to determine the removal methods of the corrosion stain, one with salicylic acid and the other benzoyl peroxide. Normal and fluorescence induced illumination documented the visible change of the samples during testing. The samples were weighed to determine possible loss of plasticizer or material. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) was employed to follow movement of the stain by presence of the copper αβ K-lines. It was determined the salicylic acid gel removed copper from the sample while the benzoyl peroxide acted as a bleaching agent.
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While it appears that metal never fully replaced stone, bone or shell for either utilitarian or non-utilitarian purposes, metal objects had clearly been embraced by some Mesoamerican peoples during late precolumbian times (Bray 1971, 1977; Hosler 1994, 2004; Maldonado 2003; Paris 2008; Pendergast 1961; Simmons 2005; Simmons and Shugar 2008). Despite calls more than three decades ago (Bray 1971, 1977; Pendergast 1961) for more intensive study of this important technological innovation, metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica is still not very well understood.
Fortunately, this situation is changing. In the last decade a number of researchers have begun to address various social, economic and technological aspects of metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica. This volume aims to highlight the work of a new generation of anthropologists and archaeologists engaged in this research. In this volume we present current approaches to the study of archaeometallurgy in Middle America as well as new perspectives on the significance of metallurgy in the lives of ancient Mesoamericans. The papers in the volume were presented in a Society for American Archaeology symposium held on March 28, 2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia entitled “Current Archaeometallurgical Research in Mesoamerica: New Approaches, Discoveries and Perspectives.”
A central theme of this volume is exploration of the varied social contexts in which metallurgical traditions were organized in ancient Mesoamerica. Specifically, authors examine the ways metallurgy and metal objects were integrated into the multifaceted social and cultural realms of ancient Mesoamerican peoples. Using different theoretical, methodological and interdisciplinary perspectives, the papers here focus on archaeometallurgical investigations that are currently being conducted throughout Middle America. While perspectives may differ the work of each of the volume’s authors is firmly grounded in an anthropologically informed understanding of the past.
Scientific technical studies can provide detailed and very useful information on metallurgical technologies, activities and use. Although discussions of the technological aspects of mining and metallurgy are necessary, particularly since there is still much we do not understand about metallurgical technologies in ancient Mesoamerica, such discussions are seen here as contributing to a larger discourse on the social significance of ancient Mesoamerican metallurgy. Information derived from such analyses is used by the authors of this volume as one method to enhance our understanding of the roles that metal objects played in the larger complex social milieu of ancient Mesoamerican life.
A variety of alternative sources have been used to inform researchers’ perspectives on the ways metal objects were regarded and used in the multi-layered sacred and material worlds of ancient Mesoamericans. Data obtained from archaeological investigations, ethnohistoric sources, ethnographic studies, as well as materials science analyses, are brought to bear on questions related to the integration of metallurgy into local and regional economies, the sacred connotations of copper objects, metallurgy as specialized crafting, and the nature of mining, alloy technology and metal fabrication, among others.
Several authors, including Elizabeth Paris, Carlos Peraza, Laura Richardson Aaron Shugar, Ed Schortman, Patricia Urban, Aaron Shugar, Scott Simmons and John Weeks, examine Postclassic and Spanish Colonial Period archaeological remains of ancient Maya metallurgy in Yucatan, Mexico, western Honduras, northern Belize and western Guatemala. Their studies explore the various contexts in which copper artifacts and production features are found as well as ancient production technologies and the social significance copper held in the lives of the people who made and used them. Hans Roskamp reviews 16th century ethnohistorical sources of information on the sacred origins of Tarascan metallurgy in the West Mexican state of Michoacán. Niklas Schulze presents data and interpretations derived from materials analyses, including geochemical composition and fabrication methods, of copper bells recovered from the Templo Mayor in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Blanca Maldonado provides an overview of recent archaeological, ethnographic and ethnohistorical studies of ancient mining and metallurgy in West Mexico. Dorothy Hosler contributes a concluding chapter wherein she remarks on the contributions current research efforts have had toward illuminating the nature of metallurgical traditions in ancient Mesoamerican societies.
The volume has 9 chapters, including an introduction to the volume. Seven of these chapters are from symposium participants and one is an invited paper by John Weeks. The final chapter of the volume is written by Dorothy Hosler, who could not attend the symposium. Her pioneering work in the field of Mesoamerican archaeometallurgy, which has now spanned over two decades, has informed and inspired the work of many of the symposium’s participants; her contribution is more synthetic in nature.
A multinational group of scholars contribute to this volume. These researchers are from the United States (Dorothy Hosler, Elizabeth Paris, Laura Richardson, Ed Schortman, Scott Simmons, Patricia Urban and John Weeks), Canada (Aaron Shugar), Mexico (Blanca Maldonado and Carlos Peraza Lope), Germany (Niklas Shulze) and the Netherlands (Hans Roskamp). The volume will include papers from every nation in Mesoamerica, with the exception of El Salvador."
While it appears that metal never fully replaced stone, bone or shell for either utilitarian or non-utilitarian purposes, metal objects had clearly been embraced by some Mesoamerican peoples during late precolumbian times (Bray 1971, 1977; Hosler 1994, 2004; Maldonado 2003; Paris 2008; Pendergast 1961; Simmons 2005; Simmons and Shugar 2008). Despite calls more than three decades ago (Bray 1971, 1977; Pendergast 1961) for more intensive study of this important technological innovation, metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica is still not very well understood.
Fortunately, this situation is changing. In the last decade a number of researchers have begun to address various social, economic and technological aspects of metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerica. This volume aims to highlight the work of a new generation of anthropologists and archaeologists engaged in this research. In this volume we present current approaches to the study of archaeometallurgy in Middle America as well as new perspectives on the significance of metallurgy in the lives of ancient Mesoamericans. The papers in the volume were presented in a Society for American Archaeology symposium held on March 28, 2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia entitled “Current Archaeometallurgical Research in Mesoamerica: New Approaches, Discoveries and Perspectives.”
A central theme of this volume is exploration of the varied social contexts in which metallurgical traditions were organized in ancient Mesoamerica. Specifically, authors examine the ways metallurgy and metal objects were integrated into the multifaceted social and cultural realms of ancient Mesoamerican peoples. Using different theoretical, methodological and interdisciplinary perspectives, the papers here focus on archaeometallurgical investigations that are currently being conducted throughout Middle America. While perspectives may differ the work of each of the volume’s authors is firmly grounded in an anthropologically informed understanding of the past.
Scientific technical studies can provide detailed and very useful information on metallurgical technologies, activities and use. Although discussions of the technological aspects of mining and metallurgy are necessary, particularly since there is still much we do not understand about metallurgical technologies in ancient Mesoamerica, such discussions are seen here as contributing to a larger discourse on the social significance of ancient Mesoamerican metallurgy. Information derived from such analyses is used by the authors of this volume as one method to enhance our understanding of the roles that metal objects played in the larger complex social milieu of ancient Mesoamerican life.
A variety of alternative sources have been used to inform researchers’ perspectives on the ways metal objects were regarded and used in the multi-layered sacred and material worlds of ancient Mesoamericans. Data obtained from archaeological investigations, ethnohistoric sources, ethnographic studies, as well as materials science analyses, are brought to bear on questions related to the integration of metallurgy into local and regional economies, the sacred connotations of copper objects, metallurgy as specialized crafting, and the nature of mining, alloy technology and metal fabrication, among others.
Several authors, including Elizabeth Paris, Carlos Peraza, Laura Richardson Aaron Shugar, Ed Schortman, Patricia Urban, Aaron Shugar, Scott Simmons and John Weeks, examine Postclassic and Spanish Colonial Period archaeological remains of ancient Maya metallurgy in Yucatan, Mexico, western Honduras, northern Belize and western Guatemala. Their studies explore the various contexts in which copper artifacts and production features are found as well as ancient production technologies and the social significance copper held in the lives of the people who made and used them. Hans Roskamp reviews 16th century ethnohistorical sources of information on the sacred origins of Tarascan metallurgy in the West Mexican state of Michoacán. Niklas Schulze presents data and interpretations derived from materials analyses, including geochemical composition and fabrication methods, of copper bells recovered from the Templo Mayor in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Blanca Maldonado provides an overview of recent archaeological, ethnographic and ethnohistorical studies of ancient mining and metallurgy in West Mexico. Dorothy Hosler contributes a concluding chapter wherein she remarks on the contributions current research efforts have had toward illuminating the nature of metallurgical traditions in ancient Mesoamerican societies.
The volume has 9 chapters, including an introduction to the volume. Seven of these chapters are from symposium participants and one is an invited paper by John Weeks. The final chapter of the volume is written by Dorothy Hosler, who could not attend the symposium. Her pioneering work in the field of Mesoamerican archaeometallurgy, which has now spanned over two decades, has informed and inspired the work of many of the symposium’s participants; her contribution is more synthetic in nature.
A multinational group of scholars contribute to this volume. These researchers are from the United States (Dorothy Hosler, Elizabeth Paris, Laura Richardson, Ed Schortman, Scott Simmons, Patricia Urban and John Weeks), Canada (Aaron Shugar), Mexico (Blanca Maldonado and Carlos Peraza Lope), Germany (Niklas Shulze) and the Netherlands (Hans Roskamp). The volume will include papers from every nation in Mesoamerica, with the exception of El Salvador."
advancements have allowed for larger scan areas (30x40cm using the DeWitt MPS-400) which can be stitched together to create a full field scan.
Currently, the smallest beam size offered by manufacturers is 1mm. The
advancement presented here focus on the development of small beam
collimators with increased photon output. Collimators have been developed with as low as a 0.47mm diameter bore. Making additional alterations to the shape of the collimator has resulted in improved signal per pixel at a sub millimeter resolution revealing more detail than previously allowed using handheld XRF instruments. This has potential implications for scanning archaeological samples, smaller artifacts, illuminated manuscripts and philately.