A study of the composition and microstructure of silver hoards from Tel Beth-Shean, Tel Dor, and Tel Miqne, Israel

• Published in: Archaeological and anthropological sciences Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 221 - 225
• Main Authors: Shalev, S., Shechtman, D., Shilstein, S. Sh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-09-2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropology; Archaeology; Chemistry/Food Science; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geography; Iron Age; Life Sciences; Metal concentrations; Metals; Original Paper; Silver; X-ray fluorescence; Israel; Chemical content; Israel; Microstructure; Bronze and Iron Age; Silver hoards
• DOI: 10.1007/s12520-013-0149-0
• EISSN: 1866-9565
• ISSN: 1866-9557

The chemical composition and microstructure of objects excavated in three hoards from the end of the Late Bronze and Iron Age sites in Israel were studied using energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis and optical metallography. The objects are industrial in origin (scrap or jewelry pieces) and include differently shaped ingots, mainly so-called
hacksilber
, in various sizes. The primary composition is Ag with typically several percent of Cu and Au and less than 1 % of Pb. The concentrations of these metals in each hoard differ significantly. The microstructure of the
hacksilber
ingots shows a typical dendritic as-cast structure and a surface cold work deformation, probably caused by chiseling the ingot piece off a larger cast bar. Relatively high concentrations of Au, as in the above samples, were observed previously in Egyptian ancient silver which differs from the ancient Greek silver that contains a significantly lower Au content.