Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Bronze:
Cu, 88.08; Sn, 11.6; Pb, less than 0.025; Zn, 0.003; Fe, 0.06; Ni, 0.03; Ag, 0.02; Sb, 0.02; As, 0.18; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.007; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer
Chemical Composition: XRF data from Tracer
Alloy: Bronze
Alloying Elements: copper, tin
Other Elements: lead, iron, silver, arsenic
K. Eremin, January 2014
Technical Observations: The solid, round object has been stripped chemically of mineralized corrosion products to expose its metallic surface. The stripping has etched into the metal and emphasized the dendritic structure that is characteristic of a cast metal. This is clearly visible on most of the surface of both faces of the thick disc. The intaglio figures were probably molded, as they too display this dendritic texture, although in a few areas the dendrites have been flattened, and it is not clear whether that was due to wear or if it was part of the chasing process. Some areas were certainly reworked in the metal at the time of the object’s manufacture: for instance, the decorative pattern that surrounds the figures includes round punch marks. The Λ-shaped character inscribed on the edge of the side with Thetis on a hippocampus also displays dendrites, which makes it difficult to ascertain whether the marks were made by punching or engraving. There may be another similar incision to the right of this figure, but so much of it is obscured by the darker patches of metallic inclusions or corrosion products that speckle parts of the surface that it is hard to decipher. Traces of a white material in the interstices are no doubt remnants of the plaster used to cast an impression of the image published by D. M. Robinson in 1934 (1).
The surface of the outer rim is metallic and abrasive marks run lengthwise in the direction of rim. These are modern and look as though they were produced by holding the disc against a grinding wheel to remove the mineralized surface. The rim was subsequently drilled with two slightly offset rows of holes (c. 2.5 mm in diameter) for most of its length, except for c. 2.5 cm of more closely spaced single holes to one side of a modern brass rod (c. 2.35 mm in diameter) that was threaded into one of the holes. The small lip of displaced metal along the edges of the holes protrudes from the ground surface and is devoid of abrasion marks, which is a sure indication that the drill holes post-date the grinding. The photograph published by Robinson does not show these holes, so they must have been made after 1934 (2).
NOTES:
1. D. M. Robinson, “The Bonze State Seal of Larissa Kremaste,” American Journal of Archaeology 38 (1934): 219-22, esp. 220, fig. 3.
2. Ibid., 219, fig. 2.
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)
