Early Cambodian gold and silver from Prohear: composition, trace elements and gilding

Schlosser, Sandra; Reinecke, Andreas; Schwab, Roland; Pernicka, Ernst; Sonetra, Seng; Laychour, Vin

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.04.045

Cited by 32 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…The back surfaces of flat objects frequently show a very thin and porous layer that is much richer in gold than the substrate, similar to those reported elsewhere as resulting from depletion gilding (Figures 7 & 8) (e.g. Lechtman 1988; Hörz & Kallfas 2000; Schlosser et al 2012). This layer is sometimes found on the front surfaces too; here, it is thinner and often discontinuous, and barely perceptible when the object is seen from the surface (maximum layer thickness on front 2.0±1.6µm, mean layer thickness on back 4.2±0.8µm, based on two measurements per layer on five objects).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

Depletion gilding, innovation and life-histories: the changing colours of Nahuange metalwork

Sáenz-Samper

Martinón‐Torres

2017

Antiquity

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The technique of depletion gilding is well evidenced in pre-Columbian Andean gold work.Artefacts from the Nahuange period in Colombia (c. AD 100-1000) IntroductionPre-Columbian goldsmiths of South America are renowned for having developed, among many other technical feats, a range of gilding techniques that rendered their objects golden, even if the quantity of gold in the bulk metal was relatively low. A variety of gilding methods are known that are predominant in different regions, depending on individual goldsmithing traditions. Gilding techniques can be broadly categorised into those that functioned by adding a gold layer on top of a different metal substrate (with subvariants, such as fusion, leafgilding or electrochemical plating), and those that involved removing copper (and, 2 sometimes, silver) from the surface of a gold-copper-silver alloy (named 'tumbaga'), leaving it more gold-rich and hence more golden in colour than the substrate (e.g. Scott 1983; Lechtman 1988;La Niece & Meeks 2000). The latter repertoire of techniques is broadly known as 'depletion gilding', and it was favoured in large regions of the Andes, including parts of present-day Colombia. Heather Lechtman's pioneering research helped in understanding the technical sophistication of depletion gilding techniques; she also proposed interpretive models to explain this particular cultural choice (Lechtman 1973(Lechtman , 1977(Lechtman , 1984(Lechtman , 1988.Essentially, depletion gilding is achieved by exposing a gold-copper-silver alloy to an oxidising environment, which leads to the formation of copper oxide scales on the surface.During removal of these oxides by burnishing or pickling with plant acids, copper is progressively removed from the surface of the alloy, and silver and gold replace it. By repeating the process several times, metalsmiths achieved remarkably golden (and gold-rich) surfaces, even if the bulk alloy was relatively gold-poor. The thickness of the golden layer could be as thin as 10µm or less, but it was sufficient to alter the appearance of the objects radically. As Lechtman posited, this process probably responded less to a concern with saving metals or reducing their melting temperatures, as to a cultural norm dictating that the golden 'essence' of the metal must be exhibited on the objects' surfaces. Thus, depletion gilding became a key element of the Andean 'technical style' that straddles material and symbolic considerations, and it has continued to be recognised as such (e.g. González 2004).While overarching models are useful to drive the discipline, higher-resolution regional studies often reveal idiosyncratic practices that do not fit easily into those paradigms. Here, we present the first analytical characterisation of Nahuange gold work from Colombia-a metallurgical tradition that developed in the northern Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, based on copper-rich tumbaga alloys. Of particular significance is the discovery...

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

Depletion gilding, innovation and life-histories: the changing colours of Nahuange metalwork

Sáenz-Samper

Martinón‐Torres

2017

Antiquity

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“…2009; Schlosser et al . 2012; Higham & Kijngam 2013; O'Reilly 2014; O'Reilly & Shewan 2015). Alternatively, the later mortuary practices represented at site 1 may have changed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Excavating among the megaliths: recent research at the ‘Plain of Jars’ site 1 in Laos

et al. 2019

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“…; and Cambodian jewels—Schlosser et al . ; this study). Higher contents of Pt (80–315 ppm) and Pd (8–19 ppm) have previously been detected in gold foil from Uralian and Siberian archaeological sites by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) (Zaykov et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Trace Elements in Ancient Gold Products with PGE Microinclusions from Archaeological Sites of the Urals and North Black Sea Region: LA–ICP–MS Data

et al. 2018

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Many archaeological gold products of the Urals and North Black Sea region contain microinclusions of platinum group minerals (PGMs). The trace element composition of these products was studied using LA–ICP–MS to reveal their microgeochemical features, the differences in the trace element composition of PGM‐bearing and PGM‐free products, and the source of gold. Owing to the presence of microinclusions of ruthenium, osmium and iridium, the gold products from the Filippovka I grave field and the Phanagoria site are enriched in Os, Ru, Ir and Rh. Among the platinum group elements (PGEs), Pt exhibits the highest contents in the gold products. The gold products are characterized by individual assemblages of Ag and base metals. The gold products with both PGEs and base metals were manufactered from two types of gold: placer‐derived and gold from oxidation zones of polymetallic volcanic‐hosted massive sulphide deposits. It is suggested that cupellation was most common technique of gold refinement.

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Early Cambodian gold and silver from Prohear: composition, trace elements and gilding

Cited by 32 publications

References 24 publications

Depletion gilding, innovation and life-histories: the changing colours of Nahuange metalwork

Depletion gilding, innovation and life-histories: the changing colours of Nahuange metalwork

Excavating among the megaliths: recent research at the ‘Plain of Jars’ site 1 in Laos

Trace Elements in Ancient Gold Products with PGE Microinclusions from Archaeological Sites of the Urals and North Black Sea Region: LA–ICP–MS Data

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