Electrochemical dating of archaeological gold based on refined peak current determinations and Tafel analysis

Electrochemical Approximation to Bronze Age Chronology via Multiple Scan Voltammetry

“…The basic idea is that, since the composition of the metal patina is depth-dependent, the application of successive reductive potential inputs will cause the progressive delamination of the sheets thus providing information about deeper regions of the patina. [27,[30][31][32] It is then hypothesized that the gradient of the tenorite/cuprite ratio (accessible by multiple-scan voltammetry) rather than its 'absolute' value in the external patina (determined by singlescan voltammetry), can be taken as an age marker suitable for constructing a calibration curve. Data from a series of 107 copper/bronze objects from the Bronze Age onwards, mainly recovered from sites in central Europe, are presented from different Austrian museums, such as the MAMUZ (Asparn an der Zaya), the University of Innsbruck (Innsbruck), as well as the Natural History and the Art History Museum (Vienna), previously studied by conventional techniques.…”

Electrochemistry in Archaeology and Art Conservation

“…[50] The most recent contribution in this matter is the development of successively refined methods to date gold artifacts. [51,52] This methodology is particularly interesting by the lower sensitivity of gold -compared to less noble metalsto the local conditions of aging. Here, it is assumed that the formation of oxygen-adsorbed species determines the variations in the VIMP response of gold surfaces, but a complex series of coupled processes can be involved so that a detailed knowledge of the corrosion processes becomes essential.…”

“…These and other objects from the Museu de Belles Arts de Castelló were used to construct a calibration graph for dating gold. [51,52] Table 1 summarizes the age markers used in the electrochemical dating of archaeological metal samples.…”

“…The most recent contribution in this matter is the development of successively refined methods to date gold artifacts [51,52] . This methodology is particularly interesting by the lower sensitivity of gold – compared to less noble metals – to the local conditions of aging.…”

“…Figure 5 shows a photographic image of two pendants of Iberian age (400–375 BCE) providing from the archaeological site of El Puig de la Nao (Benicarló, Spain). These and other objects from the Museu de Belles Arts de Castelló were used to construct a calibration graph for dating gold [51,52] …”