Deciphering of objects: Non-destructive analyses and interpretation of a ceramic object and a pebble in the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
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| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Data de Publicación: | 2026 |
| Descripción: | Two objects believed to have played a role in the metallurgical production of pre-Columbian gold and copper items from Costa Rica underwent archaeometric analysis. A crucible, initially described as pottery, and a peperite pebble consisting of jaspis and basalt, which is coated with a yellow, shiny metal—presumably gold—were examined non-destructively using digital microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The remnants of yellow metal on both objects were analysed for their elemental composition using an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy system attached to the scanning electron microscope to confirm the presence of gold and characterise its composition. Observation of the morphology of the gold led to a decision of whether the objects were of metallurgical or natural origin, revealing that the crucible served a metallurgical purpose, whereas the gold on the pebble was a natural formation rather than originating from use as a metalworking tool. |
| País: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Institución: | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Idioma: | Inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:portal.revistas.ucr.ac.cr:article/3562 |
| Acceso en liña: | https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rantropologia/article/view/3562 |
| Palabra crave: | Metallurgy Crucible Pebble Jaspis Gold Burnishing Tool Melting Vitrification Scanning electron microscopy Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy Digital microscopy Elemental mapping Elemental analysis Metalurgia Crisol Guijarro Jaspe oro Bruñido Herramienta Fusión Vitrificación SEM Microscopía digital Mapeo elemental Análisis elemental |