Determining the Provenience of Garnet Beads Using LA-ICP-MS

Carter, Alison K.

doi:10.1007/978-3-662-49894-1_16

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…We also noted a single Cr‐poor pyrope bead mounted in an earring from a Hellenistic grave at Paleokastro in Thessaly, Greece, which was identified by electron microprobe analysis (Gartzke 2004). LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of eight garnet beads from southern Cambodia (Prohear, Bit Meas, and Village 10.8) dating from about 400 BC to 200 AD yielded Cr‐poor, Ti‐rich pyrope compositions (Carter 2016). A detailed technological study of these garnet beads indicated the use of stone and copper drills, while the relatively poor shaping and polishing suggest local production (Carter 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of eight garnet beads from southern Cambodia (Prohear, Bit Meas, and Village 10.8) dating from about 400 BC to 200 AD yielded Cr‐poor, Ti‐rich pyrope compositions (Carter 2016). A detailed technological study of these garnet beads indicated the use of stone and copper drills, while the relatively poor shaping and polishing suggest local production (Carter 2016). Moreover, levels of CaO and Y in the beads from Cambodia are slightly higher when compared with the Nubian samples (Table 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2002; Gilg et al . 2010) or with beads in South and Southeast Asia (Carter 2016; Schmetzer et al . 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, the study of garnet beads and jewellery using compositional analysis has expanded in many areas of Europe and South Asia (e.g. Quast and Schüssler 2000;Gilg et al 2010;Carter 2016;Schmetzer et al 2017). In contrast, the region of Northeast Africa has remained largely ignored despite its strategic location (see Rifa-Abou El Nil and Calligaro 2020 for an exception).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study investigates the geologic and geographic origin by using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis to determine the composition of these outstanding orange-purple garnet beads found in the Early Makurian elite tumulus and to compare them with garnets used in contemporaneous cloisonné jewellery in Europe (e.g., Quast and Schüssler 2000;Calligaro et al 2002;Gilg et al 2010) or with beads in South and Southeast Asia (Carter 2016;Schmetzer et al 2017). In addition, we present new chemical and mineral inclusion data on two garnet occurrences, one in Wadi Abu Dom and another in Wadi el-Haraz, near the Fourth Cataract of the Nile in northern Sudan (Harrell 2012(Harrell , 2017, and then present other potential geologic sources for comparison by using a combination of electron microprobe and LA-ICP-MS analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Western Connections of Northeast Africa: The Garnet Evidence from Late Antique Nubia, Sudan

et al. 2020

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Outstanding garnet beads were found recently in an elite tumulus dated to the fourth century AD and located at the cemetery of Hagar el‐Beida in the Upper Nubian Nile Valley region. Whereas contacts of Northeast Africa with South Asia have just been proven through analysis of glass beads found in Nubia and dating to the time of intensive Indian Ocean trade, scientific evidence for Nubia's link with the regions to the west was lacking. Laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) was used to determine the elemental composition of three garnet beads to gain information about their type and origin. Additionally, we analyzed twelve garnets from two nearby alluvial placer deposits. While the garnet beads are inclusion‐free Cr‐poor and Ti‐rich pyropes related to alkaline mafic volcanic rocks, the local garnet deposits are shown to be inclusion‐rich almandines and thus unrelated to the investigated Nubian beads. Detailed comparison of data from Merovingian cloisonné jewellery and all known sources of the Cr‐poor and Ti‐rich pyropes shows identical ranges of elemental contents. The source of raw materials for the beads found in Nubia has been not identified with certainty yet, but sources in Portugal and Nigeria are suggested and a connection is shown to similar garnets from Merovingian contexts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2002; Gilg et al . 2010) or with beads in South and Southeast Asia (Carter 2016; Schmetzer et al . 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Western Connections of Northeast Africa: The Garnet Evidence from Late Antique Nubia, Sudan

et al. 2020

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Four millennia of garnet trade in Northeast Africa—chemical analysis of ancient and Late Antiquity beads from Lower Nubian sites

Gilg,

Then‐Obłuska,

Dussubieux

2024

Archaeometry

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Raman spectroscopy and laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry were used to characterize the chemical composition of 34 red garnet beads from Lower Nubian sites, dated between about 3200 BCE and 600 CE. All beads from the A‐Group to the Meroitic period feature a similar calcium‐poor almandine composition (69%–78% almandine, 15%–22% pyrope, 2%–6% grossular, 3%–9% spessartine), which differs from other calcium‐poor almandine garnet types, sourced mostly from Indian deposits in Antiquity. The Nubian beads constitute a new garnet type, named “cluster I”, featuring high yttrium (180 to 1205 ppm), moderately low chromium (13–70 ppm), and high scandium (119–213 ppm) concentrations. Their compositions match with previous and two new analyses from two alluvial garnet deposits, Wadi El‐Haraz and Wadi Abu Dom, near the Fourth Cataract of the Nile in Upper Nubia, about 670 km as the crow flies from the Lower Nubian graves. Garnet trade between the Bayuda desert and Lower Nubia sites, and possibly even Egypt, flourished for almost four millennia. Northeastern Africa is the cradle for the oldest use of a gemstone that is harder than quartz—the red almandine garnet.A Post‐Meroitic bead, the youngest in the assembly, displays an unusual faceting, a diamond tipped drill hole, excellent polish, distinct short‐ and long‐prismatic colorless mineral inclusions, and a calcium‐ and manganese‐poor pyrope composition. This suggests that it was not of a local, Nubian, production, but imported, most probably from a South Asian site.

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Gemmology in the service of archaeometry

Riccardi

Prosperi

Tarantino

et al. 2019

The Contribution of Mineralogy to Cultural Heritage

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Archaeometric studies of ancient artifacts containing gems or gem-quality geological materials have an intrinsic complexity. The scientific questions to be answered are related not only to the type of material used (e.g. a mineral or poly-mineral geological material), but also to their age and provenance. The answers can derive only from multidisciplinary study which combines experimental observations with information and clues from different disciplines. This paper presents three case studies in which mineralogical knowledge and the noninvasive approach typical of gemmological analyses solve the problem of gem identification. The answer aboout the origin of gems and/or minerals is more complex because little is known about the chaîne opératoire that precedes the use of gems in artifacts. Little is known currently about the geological complexity of ancient ores, some are now exhausted. Moreover, the criteria used in choosing raw material are not known. A multidisciplinary approach can lead to identification of the sources of supply of the material, understanding the choices made for the realization of the artifacts, defining the links with the geological, geographical and cultural realities that complete their context of origin. Correct archaeometric investigation must follow the ‘four C’s’ rule and keep in mind the ‘complexity’ of the artifact, answer ‘congruent’ questions to the study, aggregate different ‘competences’ and be open to ‘collaborations’.

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Determining the Provenience of Garnet Beads Using LA-ICP-MS

Cited by 3 publications

References 29 publications

Western Connections of Northeast Africa: The Garnet Evidence from Late Antique Nubia, Sudan

Western Connections of Northeast Africa: The Garnet Evidence from Late Antique Nubia, Sudan

Four millennia of garnet trade in Northeast Africa—chemical analysis of ancient and Late Antiquity beads from Lower Nubian sites

Gemmology in the service of archaeometry

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