Microscopic and microanalytical study on Sasanian metal objects from Western Iran: A case study

• Recent archaeological excavation in western Iran discovered a Sasanian palace called Ghaleh Guri (Qela Gowri) beside of the Seimarreh River. As part of the archaeometric studies on the site, five metallic objects (a coin, a disc, a vessel, a decorated strip and some pieces with no specific function) were sampled and analysed using OM and SEM-EDS to determine alloy composition and microstructure. The results showed that strip is made of copper, disc, vessel and unidentifiable object are tin bronze and the coin is made of silver-copper alloy. Tin content in the vessel is about 30 wt% and may be classified as high-tin bronze. The microstructure of samples also revealed that the amount of working and the heat treatment was variable, most likely due to their different compositions.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- Archaeology (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Metallurgi och metalliska material (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Metallurgy and Metallic Materials (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Ghaleh Guri palace

High tin bronze

Low tin bronze

Martensitic structure

Metallography

Sasanian period

SEM-EDS

Silver

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)