Roman Bronze Objects from the Archaeological Site of Burg in Burgenland, Austria

Abstract

Several Roman bronze objects were confiscated from a digger, which had been collected illegally at the archaeological site of Burg, Burgenland. Since these parts are archaeologically worthless, they were allowed to be examined with destructive analysis methods. The investigative results of five parts are presented. The surface of the parts is covered with a green patina which contains mainly Cu and smaller amounts of Sn, Pb, P, Ca, Al, S and Fe. If XRF analyses are performed, it must be taken into account that elements such as Sn accumulate in the patina. The average XRF analyses of the hook showed a content of 0.8 wt.% Sn and about 2 wt.% Pb, but in the fibular parts and the button up to 42 wt.% Pb were detected. Due to very different compositions of the samples, the microstructures are also appropriate miscellaneous. It is possible to distinguish between cast, recrystallized and deformed microstructures. These investigations show that the Roman metallurgist used a wide variety of copper alloys, because raw and recycled materials were probably processed together.