COMPOSITION OF BRONZE AGE GOLD BRACELETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE AREA

摘要

A group of 57 Bronze Age bracelets from the Portuguese area, belonging to the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology, in Lisbon, was investigated with a mobile μXRF system in compact geometry developed at the LIB-Phys to search for elemental data on the gold alloys. Compositional changes with reference to the bracelets chronology, type, and geographical origin could be revealed. The accuracy of the results was discussed and comparison with OES published data proposed. Analytical difficulties caused by composite bracelets were considered. μPIXE quantitative mapping was used to characterise the joining technique of the composite bracelet from the Treasure of Herdade do Alamo.