Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Brass:
Cu, 80.48; Sn, less than 0.25; Pb, 1.91; Zn, 15.96; Fe, 1.56; Ni, 0.07; Ag, 0.03; Sb, less than 0.05; As, less than 0.10; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, less than 0.01; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer
Technical Observations: The patina is black with some metal showing through. The pin is missing, except for a flattened section at the crossbar; the central knob is missing as well.
The fibula was made in two parts, the cast copper alloy body and the iron pin. The body was cast, probably by the lost-wax method, and the surface designs were done in the wax model. The missing central knob would have been cast separately and joined mechanically. The end of the iron pin is held in the body of the fibula by a narrow copper alloy rod. The knobs on the ends of the crossbar seem to be hollow; either plugs or the ends of the thin rod protrude out of the crossbar. The clasp was hammered over slightly. The surface shows gouges on the underside near the top as well as rough finishing marks.
Carol Snow (submitted 2002)