Archaeometric Investigation of a Hunnic-Period Sacrificial Assemblage from Nyergesújfalu, Hungary
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12940513 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Viktória Mozgai (0000-0001-9712-2773, Konkoly Observatory, corresponding author), László Schilling (Hungarian National Museum), Máté Szabó (0000-0001-7721-1103, Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research), Bernadett Bajnóczi (0000-0003-0006-7611, Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 167-181 |
| Publication date | 2023-12-19 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1804-848X • E-ISSN: 2336-1220 |
| Publisher | Archeologické centrum Olomouc (PUBLISHER • CZ) |
| DOI | 10.24916/iansa.2023.2.2 |
| OpenAlex | W4390405975 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 4 |
Near Nyergesújfalu (Komárom-Esztergom County, Hungary), objects of a Hunnic-period sacrificial assemblage were found in 2021. The Hunnic period assemblage contains fifteen items altogether: four gold lunular mounts, six cellwork-decorated gold oval mounts, two cellwork-decorated gold suspension rings, two gold buckles and fragments of a scale-patterned gilded silver plate. The present study aims to determine the elemental composition of the metal alloy of the Hunnic-period objects and characterise the decoration techniques (gilding and garnet inlays) by using optical microscopy, handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (hXRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energydispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX). The gold objects, including their small parts such as the rivets of buckles and lunular mounts, sockets and filigree, were manufactured from a relatively goodquality gold alloy (>80 wt% Au). The fragments of the scale-patterned silver plate were manufactured from a high-quality silver alloy (>94 wt% Ag), similar to late Roman silver alloys characterised by high Ag content, and was decorated with fire (mercury) gilding. The garnets used for inlays are almandine and intermediate pyrope-almandine garnets. Based on their chemistry, the garnets belong to Group X and probably originate from the placer deposits of Sri Lanka
Alloy · Composite material · Flake · Metallurgy · Mineralogy · Scanning electron microscope · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Materials Science · Mineralogy and Gemology Studies · X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis · Geology
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |