Chemical Composition: XRF data from Tracer
Alloy: Bronze
Alloying Elements: copper, tin
Other Elements: lead, iron, nickel, silver, arsenic
K. Eremin, January 2014
Chemical Composition: SEM-WDS data from sample, Bronze:
Cu, 87.2; Sn, 12.1; Pb, nd; Zn, nd; Fe, 0.15; Ni, 0.09; Ag, nd; Sb, nd; As, 0.09; Co, 0.23
Comments: Considerable intergranular corrosion.
R. Newman, June 2015
Technical Observations: The patina is mottled light green, reddish brown, black, and whitish. The surface is smooth in some areas, but much of the detail is disturbed or covered by the many raised welts and accretions resulting from corrosion.
The mitra was made from a piece of bronze sheet that was given its raised form by hammering. The edges are thinner than the bowed area in the center of the mitra. Most traces of hammering appear to have been lost as a result of a combination of the original finishing process, subsequent corrosion, and more recent cleaning of the metal. The only remaining evidence of hammering may be visible in the x-radiographs, which show a faint pattern of mottled broad lines across the piece that are less dense.
The curled edges of the mitra were formed by rolling them around thin wires (1). One of these wires appears to be visible through the break in the upper edge of the mitra, but the x-radiographs show no trace of the wires except for the hollow area inside the rounded edge. It is possible that it corroded or that it was removed.
The ribs appear to have been formed by drawing or pressing a sharp tool along the back of the sheet metal. It is not clear from looking at the front or back whether some kind of mold or guide was used to help create the ribs. The inscribed lines are discontinuous and overlap at the end of certain strokes. The inscription was recovered by an earlier restoration from a very corroded surface, which obscured the nature of the original tool marks. In some areas, the use of two elongated punch tools, one 2 mm and the other 5 mm long, is now clear.
NOTES:
1. For additional mitrai that are thought to be related to Harvard’s group, see H. D. Hoffmann and A. E. Raubitschek, Early Cretan Armorers (Mainz, 1972) esp. 10, 20, and 54-56.
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2000)