A compositional analysis by energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence of Iberian copper‐alloy votive figurines from southern Spain (fourth–third centuries BC)

Abstract

Studies of Iberian votive figurines have extended our knowledge of Iberian culture and have provided valuable information both on technological aspects of the metal processing and on social and religious patterns inside these communities. In this study, we present an energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence analysis of the copper alloys of a selection of 32 Iberian votive figurines and two fibulae (fourth–third centuries BC) in the collection of the Museum of Prehistory in Valencia. The collection comprises 98 bronze objects from the Iberian sanctuaries of Collado de los Jardines (Santa Elena) and Altos del Sotillo (Castellar), in Jaén, Spain. The results reveal a diversity of Cu–Sn–Pb alloys among the votive figurines, including copper, leaded copper (Pb > 2 wt.%, Sn <2 wt.%), binary bronzes (Sn >2 wt.%, Pb <2 wt.%), and ternary bronzes (Sn >2 wt.%, Pb >2 wt.%). The analyses of the bronze alloys are compared with those of other regional votive collections dating from the same period.

Analysis of Sagunto Ibero-Roman votive bronze statuettes by portable X-ray fluorescence

“…The development of portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (pEDXRF) allowed to carry out fast, green, low cost and direct analysis, without causing any damage to the measured materials. The pEDXRF is perfectly compatible with the analysis of archaeological remains as sediments, ceramic, rocks (Forster et al, 2011;Hunt and Speakman, 2015;Gallello et al, 2016;Grave et al, 2012;Grau Mira, Gallello, 2017), as well as with studies of Roman, Iberian and Phenician bronze statues (Ferretti et al, 2007;Schiavon et al, 2013;Roldán García and Vives-Ferrándiz Sánchez, 2018).…”

“…Further difficulties may be related to the access to objects preserved under special conservation conditions. Therefore, a correct analysis by pEDXRF needs to be carried out on a flat surface, because an irregular or corroded surface can affect the intensity of the excitation and emitted radiation and this could modify the accuracy of results (Liangquan et al, 1998;Navas et al, 2016;Roldán García and Vives-Ferrándiz Sánchez, 2018;Schiavon et al, 2016).…”