Detecting Changes of Celtic Gold Sources Through the Application of Trace Element and Pb Isotope Laser Ablation Analysis of Celtic Gold Coins

Bibliographic Data

ID8352736
AuthorsChris Bendall (Goethe University Frankfurt), D WIGG‐WOLF, David Wigg-Wolf (0000-0002-8604-544X, Academy of Sciences and Literature), Yann Lahaye (0000-0002-3982-4854, Goethe University Frankfurt), H-M Von Kaenel, Gerhard P Brey (0000-0003-2061-4213, Goethe University Frankfurt)
Year2009
Volume51
Issue4
Pages598-625
Publication date2009-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-4754.2008.00423.x
OpenAlexW1993390639
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited29

This project follows on from an initial study of Celtic gold coins from the Middle Rhine/Moselle region, which was based on material found at the Martberg, a Late Iron Age/Roman sanctuary and settlement (River Moselle, western Germany; Bendall 2003 ). The earlier work was expanded to encompass over 100 examples of various other regional Celtic gold coinages from the collection of the Römisch‐Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Mainz. The alloy (Au–Ag–Cu) and trace element compositions (in particular Ni, Sb and Pt) were determined by EPMA and LA–ICP–MS, respectively, and their Pb isotope signatures were measured by LA–MC–ICP–MS. Of the 28 trace elements measured, only Ni, Sb and Pt were found to show meaningful variations and so only they are presented here. In particular, differences in the Pt/Au ratios between various groups of earlier coinage (imitations of Philippus and Alexander/Nike staters, Sch. 23 and some early Boian coins) on the one hand, and the majority of the Boian and the southern rainbow cup coinages on the other, indicate a significant difference in the gold sources exploited for these regional coinages. The Pb isotope data confirm previous conclusions that the contribution of gold to the total lead in the Au–Ag–Cu coin alloys can be detected, especially for coins with over 70% gold, and show that possible gold sources include both eastern Mediterranean and Alpine sources. Combining the Pb isotope data with the Pt/Au ratios allows the potential gold sources to be further differentiated

Archaeology · Celtic languages · Geochemistry · Geography · Metallurgy · Mineralogy · Trace element · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Geology · Materials Science · Mineralogy and Gemology Studies · X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis

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