Technology and Provenance of a Collection of Islamic Copper‐based Objects as Found by Chemical and Lead Isotope Analysis*

Abstract

Chemical and lead isotope analyses were utilized to determine the composition, technology and origin of a collection of Islamic copper‐based objects found in Jordan. The atomic absorption spectrometry results show that the objects were made of different types of copper‐base alloys that contain various amounts of zinc, tin and lead. The use of brass, highly leaded brass and quaternary alloys of Cu‐Zn‐Sn‐Pb in the manufacture of everyday, household objects strongly points to Islamic traditions. The lead isotope compositions of the objects match very well that of the copper ore mined from the Dolomite‐Limestone‐Shale unit of the Arabah copper mines.

Local recipes or distant commodities? Lead isotope and chemical compositional analysis of glaze paints from the Salinas pueblos, New Mexico

“…Lead isotopic composition analysis has proven useful for sourcing a number of archaeological materials, including metallic leads, silver, copper, bronze, faience, glass, glazes, and other pigments (Al-Saa'd, 2000;Boni et al, 2000;Brill and Wampler, 1967;Brill et al, 1979;Gale and Stos-Gale, 1982;Stos-Gale, 1992;Wolf et al, 2003). The application of this technique to the analysis of lead-silica glazes is based on the principle that lead ores from different geological sources and the glaze paints made from them can be distinguished by ''fingerprints'' of the ratios of the four stable isotopes ( 204 Pb, 206 Pb, 207 Pb and 208 Pb).…”

Deterioration and Conservation of an Assyrian Bronze Kneading Bowl

“…he atomic absorption spectrometry based objects found in Jordan show that the objects were made of various amounts of zinc, tin and lead. 2 The lead isotope compositions of the objects match well that of the copper ore mined…”

A cargo of lead ingots from a shipwreck off Ashkelon, Israel 11th–13th centuries AD

“…During the Roman and Byzantine periods, lead was used also in shipbuilding (Kahanov, ; Rosen and Galili, ). During the Middle Ages, lead and its compounds were used in the building industry (Viollet‐le‐Duc, : 209–220), in metal vessels (Al Sa'ad, : 385–397; Craddock, : 68–79), and in cosmetics and medications (Lev and Amar, : 428–444). In the Islamic East (Fustat, Egypt) in the 11th–13th centuries it served in the glaze of ceramics and in glass vessels (Charlestone, ; Wolf et al ., : 405–420).…”