Speaker
Description
The study of Urartian metallurgy remains a significant topic in the investigation of metal production in the Ancient Near East during the first half of the first millennium BC. Excavations conducted between 2014 and 2016 at the newly discovered necropolis of Teishebaini (Karmir Blur), a city of the Kingdom of Urartu, uncovered over 250 burials, yielding several hundred metal artefacts. The majority of these were bronze items, including jewellery, weapons, horse harness and chariot components, seals, and other objects.
To gain insight into the manufacturing techniques and chemical composition of personal possessions and funerary offerings, metal artefacts from Burial N12 were analysed using X-ray-based methods. Historical and comparative analysis dates this burial to the 7th century BC.
Bronze artefacts, specifically four bracelets and a necklace, were examined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). XRF analysis revealed a highly uneven distribution of the primary alloy constituents—copper and tin—within the samples. μCT imaging provided detailed insights into the metalworking techniques employed in the production of these items, shedding light on the craftsmanship of Urartian jewellers.
