Chemical Composition: XRF data from Tracer
Alloy: Mixed Copper Alloy
Alloying Elements: copper, tin, lead, zinc
Other Elements: iron, nickel, silver, antimony
K. Eremin, January 2014
Technical Observations: Large areas of the rim’s surface are a well-preserved shiny metal with small pockets of oxidized areas. The inside of the bowl is mostly covered with burial accretion and green, tan, and brown corrosion accretions. On the outside and bottom of the bowl, large patches of green and cupritic red corrosion coat the metal. Scratches on the metallic surface are from post-excavation cleaning.
This cup was cast, and its rim was also hammered. The overall shape could have been sand cast (without a wax model) as indicated by the lack of undercuts and relatively simple shape. The decorative lines on the body were inscribed in the metal and inlayed with another material that is now black. The very even and controlled circular lines were probably also made in the metal using some kind of rotating device. The round and crescent-shaped decorations were made using the same circular punch.
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)
