Chemical Composition: XRF data from Artax 1
Alloy: Bronze
Alloying Elements: copper, tin
Other Elements: lead, zinc, iron, arsenic
K. Eremin, January 2014
XRF data from Tracer
Alloy: Bronze
Alloying Elements: copper, tin
Other Elements: lead, iron, arsenic
K. Eremin, January 2014
Technical Observations: Overall, the patina is a dull brown; there are a few areas of metallic sheen and dots of green and black. The extremely pitted surface, which has raised areas that correspond to the dendritic microstructure of the metal, is evidence that the object has been electrochemically stripped. Very little of the original surface survives; it is only evident in the form of a few black islands with green or red corrosion products. The edges of the strip are jagged in many places as a result of mineralization and electrolytic cleaning. A gash (1.6 cm long) is present on the exterior of the band in the widest area, and there is also a small crack. One terminal of the band is broken and lost.
The object was probably cast as a metal rod that was then hammered out into a thin strip. The extant end of the strip tapers to a thickened finial that is decorated with grooves that spiral to the tip.
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)