Lead Isotope Analysis of Roman Carthage Curse Tablets

Local mining or lead importation in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis? Lead isotope analysis of curse tablets from Roman Carthage, Tunisia

“…An additional twelve samples from a previous study are also included (Skaggs, 2007). When available, vein material from inside the mine was sampled either in the field or from storage specimens in possession of Dr. Salah Bouhlel of the Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.…”

“…Instead we completed the pilot study started by Skaggs in 2007 in an attempt to focus on the curse tablets that were most likely from Tunisian ore sources. Other researchers have attempted to use trace element concentrations to match lead artifacts to lead sources with varying success (Kuleff et al, 2006;Wyttenbach and Schubiger, 1973).…”

“…Using electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) allowed the small amount of lead metal core in each sample to be directly analyzed using X-ray mapping. The preliminary results of Skaggs, working with two ores and 22 curse tablets, suggested that X-Ray mapping for arsenic, antinomy, copper, and silver could be found as metal or alloy inclusions in the lead of the curse tablets and potentially used to categorize the tablets (Skaggs, 2007). These elements are common impurities in lead ores, along with many others (Nriagu, 1983;Shotyk et al, 1996).…”

“…These elements are common impurities in lead ores, along with many others (Nriagu, 1983;Shotyk et al, 1996). It is unclear why these particular elements were detected more in the tablets than others, but those with the least amount of these inclusions had lead isotope ratios most like the Tunisia lead ore isotope ratios available to Skaggs at the time, while the curse tablets with the most inclusions had ratios which were the least like the Tunisian ores (Skaggs, 2007). This study completed the preliminary work of Skaggs to determine the expediency of using arsenic, antinomy, copper, and silver to categorize the samples for TIMS analysis.…”

Archaeological Investigations of Early Trade and Urbanism at Gao Saney (Mali)

“…The remaining African analyses comprise ore samples from Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. Recent lead isotopic work on ore samples from Tunisia, many of which are still unpublished (Fenn, et al In prep (2011);Skaggs 2007;Skaggs, et al 2011 (in prep); Skaggs 2010), provide a disproportionately large comparative data set from that region. However, examination of the published analyses from Egypt and Morocco can still effectively serve to determine whether ores from these countries could be potential sources for the Gao Saney metals.…”