Rademakers, F.W., Verly, G., Degryse, P., Vanhaecke, F., Marchi, S., and Bonnet, C. (2022) Copper at ancient Kerma: A diachronic investigation of alloys and raw materials, Advances in Archaeomaterials 3, 1-18
This paper describes the first comprehensive study of metal artefacts found at ancient Kerma, Sud... more This paper describes the first comprehensive study of metal artefacts found at ancient Kerma, Sudan. Covering a period of several millennia, it investigates the development of copper alloy recipes as well as metal provenance through the trace element and lead isotope ratio analysis of forty-eight sampled objects. These include grave goods as well as production waste related to large-scale bronze casting performed at Kerma. This study is part of a wider evaluation of copper alloy production at Kerma through targeted workshop excavation, materials analysis, and experimental archaeology. The analytical results illustrate the gradual and flexible transition from arsenical copper to tin bronze alloys over time, in a pattern similarly observed in ancient Egypt. Trace element distributions and lead isotope ratios for copper used at Kerma are comparable to those of contemporary Egyptian artefacts too. These findings indicate the exploitation of ores similar to those mined at the Sinai Peninsula, although copper ore deposits in Nubia remain poorly characterized and thus difficult to identify as source candidates. Nonetheless, it can be suggested that metal provisioning networks along the Nile Valley likely overlapped to varying degrees over time. These results provide an important contribution to the mapping of technological exchanges that took place between ancient Egypt and Nubia.
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Books by Georges Verly
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-archaeological-science-reports/special-issue/10F58JK2BKZ
Rademakers (F.), Verly (G.), Téreygeol (F.), Auenmüller (J.): Guest editors
Sommaire
1- Méthodologie en archéologie expérimentale - Définition et protocole
2- L’archéologie expérimentale en paléométallurgie : quelques réflexions à partir de l’exemple français
3- Broyer le minerai et affiner l’argent : deux exemples d’une approche intégrée de l’expérimentation
4- De la mine au creuset : l’essai de la chalcopyrite au flux noir
5- Archaeological experimentation and thermodynamic interpretation of chloride-sulphate gold cementation based on ancient texts and evidence from sardis
6- Le dépôt du Bronze final III du « Trou des Nutons » d’Aiseau-Presles (prov. de Hainaut). Études archéologiques et echnologiques autour d’un entonnoir de coulée
7- La chaîne opératoire de la production de l’or : expérimentations autour du site de Samut (désert Oriental, Égypte)
8- The missing link between New Kingdom chisels and chisel marks: from documentation to reproduction
9- Bronze casting artefacts from the Qubbet el-Hawa – Moulds, materials, and experimental methods
10- Les creusets métallurgiques de l'antiquité tardive à Bouto : une expérimentation autour de
l'adaptation de l'objet et de son usage à la matière disponible
Papers by Georges Verly
https://www.editions-mergoil.com/fr/monographies-instrumentum/209-studies-in-experimental-archaeometallurgy-methodological-approaches-from-non-ferrous-metallurgies.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
En 1969, un ensemble unique de moules de l’époque tardive a été découvert dans la nécropole de Qubbet el-Hawa, illustrant la chaîne opératoire de la technique de la cire perdue. Habituellement, il reste au mieux des fragments de moules comme seuls vestiges archéologiques, difficilement identifiables, or ce lot de moules présente des exemplaires complets représentatifs des différentes phases de la production d’artefacts en cire perdue. Les µCT-scans ont révélé l’existence de deux approches technologiques totalement différentes. La première vise à produire de petites amulettes et des statuettes de divinités. La seconde permettrait de tenter des « remembrements » de figures d’Osiris. En effet, des pieds en bronze – préalablement coulés puis cassés – ont été complétés en ajoutant et en y modelant un corps en cire pour donner une forme complète de statuette d’Osiris. Ensuite, cette figure mi-métal, mi-cire, est entourée d’un nouveau moule afin de créer un nouveau corps. D’un point de vue technique, une telle méthode constitue un non-sens, puisqu’une fusion entre le corps nouvellement coulé et les pieds en métal déjà existants n’est pas possible. Dans cet article, une nouvelle hypothèse est proposée, qui pourrait expliquer une telle technique de coulée propre à une utilisation rituelle locale.
https://www.editions-mergoil.com/fr/monographies-instrumentum/209-studies-in-experimental-archaeometallurgy-methodological-approaches-from-non-ferrous-metallurgies.html
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1dOab,rVDBY7H0
The full Special Issue is accessible through this link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-archaeological-science-reports/special-issue/10F58JK2BKZ
https://rdcu.be/ck72j
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1cnv5,rVDBVSrZ
In this paper, a solution is proposed to answer the problematic issue of the type of fuel used in the early Middle Kingdom smelting furnaces at Ayn Soukhna based on a strict experimental protocol. The protocol was repeated 17 times, for a total of approx. 1500 h of experimental work. In correspondence with the archaeological data obtained at Ayn Soukhna, the combined use of fresh acacia and donkey dung as fuel for smelting is proposed; the use of charcoal for smelting can be excluded.
A holistic evaluation of experimental and archaeological evidence has shown that a combination of fresh wood and donkey dung was most likely the standard fuel choice at Middle Kingdom Ayn Soukhna. This is evidenced by the compatibility of results from experimental smelting using wood and donkey dung in terms of furnace lining impact and colorimetry, slag typology and deposition, ash and charcoal distribution, and raw copper shape and size. The use of charcoal systematically results in incompatible smelting results, as does smelting without donkey dung. In addition to green wood, donkey dung is required to regulate the temperature distribution inside the furnaces and to increase the production of copper prills. Green wood creates a favourable atmosphere for the smelting of copper carbonate ore. It heats the lining of the column less, allowing the furnaces to be reused over several campaigns. The dual fuel use of green wood and donkey dung, however, has resulted in the best agreement between experimental smelting results and corresponding archaeological evidence.
This archaeometallurgical research in the Nile Valley is carried out by a team composed of Georges Verly, in charge of archaeology and experimental archaeology, and Frederik Rademakers, in charge of archaeometry, as well as numerous master students and a Maître d’art, Hugues Paridans. Dialogue and interdisciplinarity are the assets of this project, dictating equality between its members, representing the sum of ideas and debates, building all research protocols and publications.
After contextualizing the source of our research and drawing attention to the need to consider any hypothesis according to the experimental science principles, we will support our statements along two lines : the development of a methodological framework and elaboration of a working protocol.
On the one hand we attempt to establish an accurate definition of the experimental archaeology concept, to describe its scientific objectives and means as well as its contributions, limits and weaknesses.
On the other hand we introduce a working protocol draft in six different steps, and submit a case study for illustrative purposes.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-archaeological-science-reports/special-issue/10F58JK2BKZ
Rademakers (F.), Verly (G.), Téreygeol (F.), Auenmüller (J.): Guest editors
Sommaire
1- Méthodologie en archéologie expérimentale - Définition et protocole
2- L’archéologie expérimentale en paléométallurgie : quelques réflexions à partir de l’exemple français
3- Broyer le minerai et affiner l’argent : deux exemples d’une approche intégrée de l’expérimentation
4- De la mine au creuset : l’essai de la chalcopyrite au flux noir
5- Archaeological experimentation and thermodynamic interpretation of chloride-sulphate gold cementation based on ancient texts and evidence from sardis
6- Le dépôt du Bronze final III du « Trou des Nutons » d’Aiseau-Presles (prov. de Hainaut). Études archéologiques et echnologiques autour d’un entonnoir de coulée
7- La chaîne opératoire de la production de l’or : expérimentations autour du site de Samut (désert Oriental, Égypte)
8- The missing link between New Kingdom chisels and chisel marks: from documentation to reproduction
9- Bronze casting artefacts from the Qubbet el-Hawa – Moulds, materials, and experimental methods
10- Les creusets métallurgiques de l'antiquité tardive à Bouto : une expérimentation autour de
l'adaptation de l'objet et de son usage à la matière disponible
https://www.editions-mergoil.com/fr/monographies-instrumentum/209-studies-in-experimental-archaeometallurgy-methodological-approaches-from-non-ferrous-metallurgies.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
En 1969, un ensemble unique de moules de l’époque tardive a été découvert dans la nécropole de Qubbet el-Hawa, illustrant la chaîne opératoire de la technique de la cire perdue. Habituellement, il reste au mieux des fragments de moules comme seuls vestiges archéologiques, difficilement identifiables, or ce lot de moules présente des exemplaires complets représentatifs des différentes phases de la production d’artefacts en cire perdue. Les µCT-scans ont révélé l’existence de deux approches technologiques totalement différentes. La première vise à produire de petites amulettes et des statuettes de divinités. La seconde permettrait de tenter des « remembrements » de figures d’Osiris. En effet, des pieds en bronze – préalablement coulés puis cassés – ont été complétés en ajoutant et en y modelant un corps en cire pour donner une forme complète de statuette d’Osiris. Ensuite, cette figure mi-métal, mi-cire, est entourée d’un nouveau moule afin de créer un nouveau corps. D’un point de vue technique, une telle méthode constitue un non-sens, puisqu’une fusion entre le corps nouvellement coulé et les pieds en métal déjà existants n’est pas possible. Dans cet article, une nouvelle hypothèse est proposée, qui pourrait expliquer une telle technique de coulée propre à une utilisation rituelle locale.
https://www.editions-mergoil.com/fr/monographies-instrumentum/209-studies-in-experimental-archaeometallurgy-methodological-approaches-from-non-ferrous-metallurgies.html
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1dOab,rVDBY7H0
The full Special Issue is accessible through this link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-archaeological-science-reports/special-issue/10F58JK2BKZ
https://rdcu.be/ck72j
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1cnv5,rVDBVSrZ
In this paper, a solution is proposed to answer the problematic issue of the type of fuel used in the early Middle Kingdom smelting furnaces at Ayn Soukhna based on a strict experimental protocol. The protocol was repeated 17 times, for a total of approx. 1500 h of experimental work. In correspondence with the archaeological data obtained at Ayn Soukhna, the combined use of fresh acacia and donkey dung as fuel for smelting is proposed; the use of charcoal for smelting can be excluded.
A holistic evaluation of experimental and archaeological evidence has shown that a combination of fresh wood and donkey dung was most likely the standard fuel choice at Middle Kingdom Ayn Soukhna. This is evidenced by the compatibility of results from experimental smelting using wood and donkey dung in terms of furnace lining impact and colorimetry, slag typology and deposition, ash and charcoal distribution, and raw copper shape and size. The use of charcoal systematically results in incompatible smelting results, as does smelting without donkey dung. In addition to green wood, donkey dung is required to regulate the temperature distribution inside the furnaces and to increase the production of copper prills. Green wood creates a favourable atmosphere for the smelting of copper carbonate ore. It heats the lining of the column less, allowing the furnaces to be reused over several campaigns. The dual fuel use of green wood and donkey dung, however, has resulted in the best agreement between experimental smelting results and corresponding archaeological evidence.
This archaeometallurgical research in the Nile Valley is carried out by a team composed of Georges Verly, in charge of archaeology and experimental archaeology, and Frederik Rademakers, in charge of archaeometry, as well as numerous master students and a Maître d’art, Hugues Paridans. Dialogue and interdisciplinarity are the assets of this project, dictating equality between its members, representing the sum of ideas and debates, building all research protocols and publications.
After contextualizing the source of our research and drawing attention to the need to consider any hypothesis according to the experimental science principles, we will support our statements along two lines : the development of a methodological framework and elaboration of a working protocol.
On the one hand we attempt to establish an accurate definition of the experimental archaeology concept, to describe its scientific objectives and means as well as its contributions, limits and weaknesses.
On the other hand we introduce a working protocol draft in six different steps, and submit a case study for illustrative purposes.
Cette approche par les matières métalliques autant que par les matières minérales et organiques se veut diachronique et ouverte à différentes aires culturelles. Cette ouverture qui caractérise les travaux expérimentaux conduits sur la plateforme permet des inter comparaisons fructueuses dans une visée transdisciplinaire cultivée de longue date au sein de l’IRAMAT.
Le WS se tiendra en hybride. Il est ouvert à tous. Les personnes inscrites pour assister en distanciel recevront un lien peu avant le workshop.
is a key site in ancient Sudan, at a cross roads between ancient Egypt to the north and
sub Saharan Africa to the south, but also the east west trade routes crossing the continent
Its material culture reflects these influences but equally represents strong local traditions
During
the Classic Kerma period 18 th to 16 th century BCE), a metallurgical workshop was
constructed in the middle of the religious quarter, first discovered by Bonnet 1986 He
identified a particularly shaped furnace as related to bronze metallurgy, but its precise
functioning was never fully reconstructed Similarly shaped furnaces are known only from
New Kingdom Pi Ramesse ( but these are several centuries younger and their
functioning remained similarly unclear
Contact
1
[email protected]
2
[email protected]
3
[email protected]
4
[email protected]
Classic
Kerma (eighteenth to sixteenth century BCE) Kerma (
The bronze furnace of
Kerma revisited
a unique casting technology reconstructed through experiment, (re
--)excavation and archaeometry
Acknowledgements
funding EACOM BELSPO ( 143 /A 3 / KU Leuven Center
for Archaeological Sciences, Université Paris Sorbonne, UMR 8167 Orient et
Méditerranée, Ministry of Antiquities, Tourism and Wildlife, National Corporation for
Antiquities and Museums, Fondation Kerma and Mission Suisse franco soudanaise de
Kerma Doukki Gel We thank the entire EACOM team, in particular Charlotte Doyen,
Lente Castelein Hugues Paridans and students, our colleagues at the RMAH,
Plateforme expérimentale des mines d’argent de Melle and Archéosite d’Aubechies
References
Bonnet
Charles, 1986 Un atelier de bronziers à Kerma in Krause, M Nubische Studien Tagungsakten der 5 Internationalen
Konferenz der International Society for Nubian Studies, Heidelberg, 22 25 September 1982 Mainz Verlag Philip Von Zabern pp 19 22
Bonnet
Charles, Valbelle Dominique and Privati Béatrice 2004 Le temple prinipal de la ville de Kerma et son quartier religieux
Mission archéologique de l’Université de Genève à Kerma ( Paris, pp 33 38 fig 26 27 28
Bonnet
Charles, Siddig Ahmed Hamad, 1980 Quelques remarques sur les lions en bronze décorant un lit retrouvé à Kermain
Genava tome XXVIII, Genève, pp 68 72
Davies
Norman de Garis Paintings from the Tomb of Rekh Mi Ré at Thebes, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian Expedition,
New York, 1935 plate I Davies Norman De Garis The Tomb of Rekh Mi Ré at Thebes, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian
Expedition, vol I, New York, 1943 pp 36 54
Pusch
Edgar B 1990 Metallverarbeitende Werkstätten der frühen Ramessidenzeit in Qantir Piramesse / Ägypten und Levante
Zeitschrift für ägyptische und deren Nachbargebiete vol I, Wien, pp 75 113 abb 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a, 9 b, 10 a et 10 b
Pusch
Edgar B 1994 Divergierende Verfahren der Metallverarbeitung in Theben und Qantir Ägypten und Levante 4 Wien, pp
145 170 abb 1 et 2
Rademakers
Frederik W Verly, Georges, Delvaux, Luc and Degryse Patrick, 2018 Copper for the afterlife in Predynastic to Old
Kingdom Egypt provenance characterization by chemical and lead isotope analysis (RMAH collection, Belgium) Journal of Archaeological
Science 96 pp 175 190
Verly
Georges, 2017 The smelting furnaces of Ayn Soukhna The excavations of 2013 2014 and 2015 dans Montero Ruiz I and
Perea A ..(eds Archaeometallurgy in Europe IV, Bibliotheca Praehistorica Hispana vol XXXIII, Madrid, pp 143 157
Interpretation
The
area, affected by Reisner’s excavations Reisner George A 1924 Excavations at Kerma, Vol
II, Cambridge), was occupied over time by various technical activities To the west of the
Deffufa inside the temple complex the walled workshop was situated inside the courtyard of
the Northwest Chapel The cross furnace half buried 60 cm deep was built into levels of
Middle Kerma bricks to create the heating chambers below ground level The 1986 excavation
describes the presence of a crucible in one of the fireplaces The furnace 1 is oriented along
the N/S E/W axes In the centre, a large floor 4 is bordered by the departure of a broad vault
completely removed creating a large heating chamber 6 The floor is made of a very fine
red brown micaceous clay paste, perfectly smoothed to function directly as a mould surface
For this reason we propose to call this furnace a monovalve mould in a heated chamber The
floor sits above eight heating channels that link the N/S fireplaces It is supported by
standardised brick walls covered by a clay lining There are no traces of vitrification These clay
pastes were baked in an oxidising environment red and biscuit like, at around 800 C based on
comparisons to experimental data)
To
the north 8 the four large fireplaces still containing ash and charred wood fragments, are
further subdivided beneath the furnace floor (forming the eight heating channels) These have
been closed off using bricks and clay during the final use to slowly cool down the interior
chamber These bricks are still sitting on a layer of ashes seven centimers thick
To
the south 3 four smaller fireplaces containing the same remains were each covered by a
dome (of which only one foundation level remains most likely to create additional draft These
are similarly subdivided beneath the furnace floor (forming the eight heating channels)
The
construction of this furnace was done in two stages digging through the soil levels (dry
bricks) and fast built up using dry bricks and lining Small alignment errors suggest that this
furnace was used for a short period in response to a specific demand to produce a certain
number of artefacts When this demand was met, the metallurgists destroyed the structure to
make room for a new phase of occupation, leaving testimony of the final use in place (e g the
bricks to close the north heating channels and the used crucible The large dome forming the
closed chamber mould and the smaller domes of the southern fireplaces were demolished
The excavation has shown that the remaining floor level was voluntarily left in place in
antiquity During the leveling of the structure, the south east and north west corners were
pierced to fill up the heating channels with large fragments) up to the floor level
pXRF
mapping of the casting funnels 2 and the floor itself revealed a surface contamination
by copper with low tin, lead and arsenic A small copper fragment embedded in the mould fill
had ca 2 5 tin, 0 5 arsenic and 0 2 lead (ICP OES analysis We therefore propose to
interpret this furnace as a monovalve mould completely integrated into the structure of a
cross shaped furnace used for the production of copper alloy plates/ sheets The four casting
funnels were most likely supplied by four melting furnaces located next east towards the
Deffufa to be confirmed by a future excavation) The plate is narrower than the door allowing
the monovalve mould to be used several times The door 5 closing the chamber is held at its
base by two wooden rods which fit into two hinges 7 These plates may have been used to
decorate monumetal wooden doors cfr 9 TT 100 Tomb of Rekh Mi Ré to be cut in order to
create furnature decoration cfr 10 Museum of Khartoum)
This
furnace technology was not invented ex nihilo Rapid construction was performed without
visible repairs indicating that the metallurgists mastered this technology which may be local
or imported (no similar earlier models are currently known anywhere We suggest that this
unique monovalve mould in a heated chamber may derive from de waxing furnace technology
wherein lost wax moulds were heated in a similar furnace with a pierced floor
Similar
cross furnaces were found in Pi Ramesse Egypt right next to large scale bronze
melting batteries Pusch 1990 1994 illustrating the continued use and adaptation of this
spectacular furnace type in Egypt centuries later
Excavation techniques
Charles
Bonnet and his team have established a methodology that voluntarily leaves sections intact during the
excavation of structures, constructions, dwellings This approach offers the opportunity to undertake
complementary research at a later time, either by external archaeologists or the excavation team itself We have
followed his example by leaving half of the heating chamber below the floor level intact
1:
Art and History Museum, Brussels Egyptian Antiquities section 2: KU Leuven, Earth and Environmental Sciences
3:
Co directrice de la mission archéologique Kerma Doukki Gel CNRS, UMR 8167 (Orient & Méditerranée), équipe Mondes Pharaoniques 4: Co directeur de la mission archéologique Kerma Doukki Gel Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres
1) Plan
2) East side: view of casting funnels: Marion Berti , Daniel Berti , Alfred Hidber , Thomas Kohler, Alain Peillex and Béatrice Privati
Georges Verly
1 Frederik W. Rademakers 2 Séverine Marchi 3 Charles Bonnet 4
3) South side
small vaulted fireplaces: Georges Verly and Bruno Derenne
4) Ortho
internal view : Georges Verly and Bruno Derenne
5) West side:
Georges Verly and Bruno Derenne
6) Ortho
external view: Georges Verly
and Bruno
Derenne
7) Hinge of removable door:
Georges Verly
8) North side
big fireplace: Georges Verly
9) TT100:
Davies Norman de Garis 10) Cut Lion:
Charles Bonnet and Ahmed Hamad Siddig
Having the foresight to leave part of the furnace unexcavated and its remains carefully covered at the time, Bonnet
now offered the opportunity to a new generation of archaeometallurgists to re excavate this furnace during the
2018 2019 campaign and create a full photogrammetry 3D model. Drawing on insights from pre excavation
experimentation (based on the original excavation reports), newly discovered features and in situ pXRF
measurements, a completely new interpretation of this furnace is now proposed. Its functioning within the chaîne
opératoire of bronze production offers exciting new perspectives on the existing technological know how in the
region at this time. It is the first ancient example world wide of this particular casting technology currently known.
The Egyptian Museum of Bonn University (Germany) holds a unique collection of
casting moulds, discovered in tomb 207 of the Qubbet el-Hawa necropolis (Egypt) in
1969. Despite questions about their deposition and function in a funerary context,
they allow a detailed study of Late Period bronze casting technology. The moulds
elucidate all steps of the lost wax casting process, as well as failed casting
attempts. Employing a range of archaeometric methods, an initial research project
(Bonn) provided insight into their material technology and revealed remarkable cases
for the mending of bronze Osirises. A collaborative follow-up project with EACOM,
supported by the Fonds Comhaire, is presented here. This ongoing research is
dedicated to developing an integrated experimental and archaeometric methodology
to better understand the functionality of these casting moulds.
production of copper chisels at Ayn Soukhna, drawing on archaeological as well as experimental evidence. T ese different steps and the specific tools associated with them are considered in light of ongoing excavation, experimentation and archaeometric analysis, which are integrated into a holistic and reflective methodology within the EACOM project.
To understand the actual metallurgical process in greater detail, extensive experimental reconstructions were conducted at Ayn Soukhna (Egypt), Melle (France) and Aubechies (Belgium), and consecutively excavated. A variety of conditions (e.g., fuel type, ore loading) were tested and the furnaces subsequently excavated to best approach the archaeological reality, from which samples could not be obtained due to export restrictions.
The experimental products were then analysed at the KU Leuven using microscopic, chemical and Pb isotope analysis to better understand changes occurring within the Egyptian furnaces throughout the metallurgical process. These not only include ore and copper metal, but a variety of slag types formed in different areas of the furnace, which illuminate the ancient reduction process and, importantly, its variability.
This integration of archaeological, experimental and analytical work produces the first detailed record of Middle Kingdom Egyptian copper smelting, both inside and outside the furnace. The presentation of these first results aims to show some possibilities for such integrated approaches and stimulate discussion on methodology as well as ancient Egyptian metallurgy.
[1] M. Abd el Raziq, G. Castel, P. Tallet, and P. Fluzin, Ayn Soukhna II: les Ateliers Métallurgiques du Moyen Empire, Cairo: Institut français d’archéologie orientale, 2011
[2] G. Verly: Archaeometallurgy of smelting furnaces from Ayn Soukhna (Middle Kingdom, Egypt), Archaeometallurgy in Europe IV, 1-3 June 2015, Madrid, Spain, forthcoming
The EACOM project, funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office, aims to capitalise on the rich availability of ancient Egyptian metalwork in this collection to further the understanding of object production methods such as lost-wax casting, sheet hammering etc., for a variety of ancient daily use objects. Furthermore, it will characterise the alloys used in their production, and where possible the ores used to produce them.
To this end, these several hundred objects are first subjected to an exploratory chemical analysis by handheld XRF, to discover the main copper alloy components (arsenic, tin, lead, zinc) as well as their chief contaminants, such as iron, nickel, cobalt and antimony. This poster presents the results of this exploratory stage of the research, and looks ahead by showing preliminary results of the next research phase, where a broad selection of samples are further analysed for their chemical (ICP-OES) and Pb isotope composition (MC-ICP-MS). This is undertaken with the broader goal of further developing chronological frameworks of changing copper use and supply in ancient Egypt, making use of the well contextualised objects within the collection and guided by results of the exploratory work.
This poster therefore presents the first stage of collaborative research undertaken within the EACOM project at the KU Leuven and Royal Museums of Art and History, and aims to generate debate on the viability for archaeometric approaches to ancient metal collections in museum contexts worldwide.
For the past twenty years, archaeometallurgy has developed substantially, as did the archaeometry of archaeological metals. Regarding the complexity of the understanding, during the excavations, of the sites, structures and data related to ancient metallurgic techniques, experimentation may be an appropriate way of generating new methodologies or interpretations. It can be construed as an effective mean for testing or validating the artefacts and the technical devices. The conference aims at taking stock of the inputs and limits of experimentation in these fields.
The first day will be devoted to pharaonic Egypt and the major steps in antique metallurgy, from extraction to final production. Through multidisciplinary speeches on case studies about European an African archaeology, and through workshop sessions, the second day will be more specifically dedicated to the epistemology of experimental archaeology.
The conference is organized by the BRAIN Project Egyptian and African Copper Metallurgy (EACOM), the Royal Museums of Art and History, the contact group of the FNRS Arts et Techniques métallurgiques pré-industriels. Étude et conservation and the CReA-Patrimoine – Université libre de Bruxelles.
PLACE
Royal Museums of Art and History
Parc du Cinquantenaire, 10 / 1000 Bruxelles
REGISTRATION FEE
5 euros / To guarantee you a place, advance payement can be made to IBAN: BE94 6791 3001 0514 – BIC: PCHQBEBB. Please, indicate your name, first name and EACOM 2015. Otherwise, the payement can be made on the spot. / Free for students, unemployed and pensioners
Mandatory registration prior to September 20, 2015
Science et archéologie dans la grotte de Han-sur-Lesse : Les métiers de l’archéologie
Commissaire de l'exposition: Pr. Eugène Warmenbol, Faculté de Philosophie et Lettres-Histoire de l'art et archéologie.
Avec la participation du CreA-Patrimoine et du Centre des Technologies au service de l'Enseignement (CTE) - l'ULB et du Service Public de Wallonie (SPW) et avec le concours de la S.A. des Grottes de Han et de Rochefort.
Film réalisé par ULB Culture
Melle, 21-22 June 2023
Organised by Florian Téreygeol, Guillaume Sarah, Marion Berranger and Georges Verly