Transcript Document

Non destructive analyses
of archaeological metal
artefacts & the stories in
the Bible: could they
meet?
Special opening lecture for
ISRANDT & ASNT/ISRAEL
27.4.2010
Sariel Shalev
University of Haifa
This lecture is dedicated with love and gratitude to
Gabi Shoef
and his ‘highly expensive’ non destructive analyses of
archaeological metal artefacts
some 22 years ago.
Sariel Shalev
University of Haifa
... From the time of the Patriarch until the time of struggle
between the Israelites and the Philistines in Canaan
(MBI – IA1: 1800-1000 BCE)
Sariel Shalev
With contributions of:
•Elad Caspi
•Naama Yahalom
•Sana Shilstein
•Y. Levy & M. Pfilstoker
•Ayelt Gilboa & Ilan Sharon
•Rahel Ben-Dov & A. Biran
•Amihi Mazar
(ISF Research Grant)
The socio-political structure of Canaan in the MBA & ND Analysis
Preliminary neutron diffraction study of two fenestrated axes
from the ‘Enot Shuni’ Bronze Age cemetery (Israel)
El’ad Caspi , Hanania Ettedgui, Oleg Rivin, Martin Peilsto¨cker, Beni Breitman, Izhak Hershko,
Sana Shilstein, Sariel Shalev
The neutron diffraction & radiography of the axes from Shuni
So, could it be the ‘Sheppard's Chief’ symbol of status?
‘‘Abram had become very
wealthy in livestock and in silver
and gold (Genesis 13: 2). Now Lot,
who was moving about with Abram,
also had flocks and herds and tents.
(Genesis 13: 5). And quarrelling
arose between Abram’s herdsmen
and the herdsmen of Lot. The
Canaanites and Perizzites were also
living in the land at that time.’’
(Genesis 13: 7).
If only life could be so simple: The similar finds from Byblos
Did the Patriarchs go from Canaan down to Egypt?
Hnum Hotep tomb, Beni Hassan, Semites coming to Egypt
What could we add to the known material and metallurgy?
Similar metals were found in Israel
and in Egypt and were analyzed
recently.
On the basis of “old” and “new” data
we could now check the metal
composition typical to each of the
metal weapons typical to this period.
How the new metallurgical data could affect the chronology?
Tin Bronze (16%-5% Sn)
with no arsenic (+1TED)
Axes from Tell elDab’a, Egypt.
Identical axes from
Rishon LeZion, Israel
Metal composition of shafthole axes from MBIIa and MBIIb
No.
Site
Reg. No.
Cu
As
Sn
Pb
Fe
Analysis
1
Hama
5E-802
86.60
0.30
5.30
5.10
0.05
(Levant 23)
2
Yiftahel
P-46
85.46
0.12
12.27
1.90
0.01
EPMA
3
K.Vradim
KV 98-19
88.42
0.03
10.06
1.18
0.05
EPMA
4
Aphik
80.13
0.35
9.76
0.45
0.07
AAS
5
Yiftahel
P-45
93.59
0.19
6.00
0.10
0.04
EPMA
6
Fasuta
F-34
90.03
4.34
0.02
4.35
0.73
EPMA
7
Gesher
89-587
93.71
3.47
0.03
0.04
2.27
EPMA
No.
Site
Reg. No.
Cu
As
Sn
Pb
Fe
Analysis
1
Jericho
29/63
86.07
0.45
6.68
1.23
0.02
(Khalil 1980)
2
Aphek
10764/60
71.56
0.19
6.50
0.15
0.29
AAS
3
Jericho
29/62
86.33
1.63
6.72
0.10
0.16
(Khalil 1980)
4
Rumeida
T-34
93.78
3.42
0.14
0.61
0.81
EPMA
Compositional characterization of the shafthole axes
Flat shafthole axes were similarly made of:
• Arsenical copper (3.5%-4.3% As) with no tin
• Tin bronze (12%-5% Sn) with less then 0.5%
arsenic. (+3TED)
• Lead in much lower quantities then in the
above (5%-1% Pb) was detected in both alloying
types. (+1TED)
R. LeZion
Rounded shafthole axes were also made of:
• Arsenical copper (1.6%-3.4% As) with no tin
(+4TED).
•All the tin bronzes have similar amount of tin
(6.5%-6.8% Sn), (+3TED)
•(2TED only Fe, As 0.5 or n.d.; 1TED only Cu)
KV-98 19e x 100
Rumeida
If the above would remain the only archaeological data …
warrior figurine from
Biblos with axe, spear and
dagger
Axe Kabri
Belt –
Fara’a
Spear Safed
Dagger –
Rishon Le
Zion
Baghouz
warrior on his
death bed
Egyptian
hieroglyphs for
dead enemy
The Middle Bronze Age metal artifacts: what do we already know?
Hundreds of copper- base objects were
unearthed, mainly in burials, all over the
Levant in the last 150 years of archaeology.
In the Middle Bronze Age (end of 3rd –
middle of 2nd Millennium B.C) the
development of more complex weapons
(longer daggers, swords, complex battle axes
etc.) was made possible by alloying the copper
initially with arsenic (As) and later tin (Sn) to
produce arsenical copper and tin bronze.
Lead (Pb) begin to play a greater role as a
major alloy as well.
…and how non destructive analyses could give us a better insight?
ND of MBII axes in ISIS, UK.
2008
Scan along the blade
(2 mm from the edge)
Concentration, % in weight
30
25
top
20
bottom
15
Pb,
Pb,
Sn,
Sn,
10
5
0
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Distance from the top, mm
16
18
20
face
face
face
face
A
B
A
B
Non Destructive Analysis & The “Philistine Monopoly” on Metal Production
The Biblical description:
RSV 1Sa 13:19 Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of
Israel; for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or
spears"; 20 but every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to
sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle; 21 and the charge
was a pim for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for
sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. 22 So on the day of the battle
there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with
Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
Distribution of Early Iron Age Metallurgical Activities
Tel Dan
The archaeological data
•
•
Circa 700 metal
finds – Cu+Sn
mainly
Small local
production ,
mainly
Philistines sites.
Tel Dor
Tel Qasile
Tel Gerisa
Simple products +
some imports &
Heirlooms
•
•
•
•
•
•
13 sites, mainly in Philistian
territory (9) :
Dan, Beth Shean, Megiddo,
Yoqneam, Dor, Gerisa,
Qasile, Aphek, Beth Shemesh
•
•
+120
analyses
by ICP,
WDS, XRF.
(Shalev,
Yahalom,
Segal)
48 LIA
(Yahalom
& Segal)
Metal Production Area in Early Iron Age Tel Dan
R. Ben-Dov Area B
Bronze Production Remains from Early Iron Age Tel Dan
Crucible-Slag from the IA-I Bronze Production area at Tel Dan
13 analyses (WDS + AAS) of
crucible slags & prills, 18
analyses of objects &
fragments.
L.71 and 15
L.7119
Cu+1.7/1.9%Sn
L.7126
Cu+0.6/6.8%Sn
L.7060
Cu+1.4/4.7%Sn
S.Shalev 1993
Microstructure of an IA-I Crucible-Slag from Tel Dan
Bronze Prills
U20 X 400
So – is it a typical Philistine metal production as described in the Bible?
Tel Dor: View from its Iron Age Southern Harbor
Area G
Harbor
Garstang J. 1923-4; Stern E. 1980-2000
Bronze Production Remains & Objects from Are G at Tel Dor
Needle
98338
Scrap
Pin
Arrowhead
180192
98206
Metal piece
Awl
98810
182131
Slag
Metal prills
Ring pieces
Slag
Slags
B94466
Scrap
91569
B94482
181360
180505
47829
+200 metal remains:
116 Prills, 54 chunks,
slag, 8 crucible frags.
19 objects & fragments.
Crucible for Bronze Melting - Early Iron Age Tel-Gerisa
How could non destructive XRF find the ‘missing link’ in the field?
Eastern Balk of Are G at Tel Dor
Iron Age II
Iron Age I
Late Bronze Age
Early Iron Age Fire-Pit Section in Are G Balk at Tel Dor
XRF Analysis of Gray Ash
Fe
Ca
Cu
Sr
F16
F17
F18
XRF Analysis of white Calcite from the IA-I Fire-Pit
from
Dor of Burnt Ground from the IA-I Fire-Pit
XRFTel
Analysis
XRF
of Ash from the IA-I Courtyard
from
Tel Analysis
Dor
nearCa
the Fire-Pit
Fe
Fe
Fe
Ca
C
a
Cu
Cu
Sr
Sr
Sr
The Philistine’s Metal Arms Superiority & Non Destructive XRF Analysis
RSV 1Sa 17:45 Then David
said to the Philistine, "You
come to me with a sword and
with a spear and with a
javelin; but I come to you in
the name of the Lord of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel,
whom you have defied.
Mediterranean Sea
Beth Dagan
Jaffa
The “Philistine” Sword from the British Museum
“A Shardanian weapon also used by the Philistines,
discovered at the Biblical site of Beth-Dagon, near
Jaffa”
B.M. 127137 L.1065 W.84 Th.14 Rivets 12
Purchased in 1910 by the British Museum
Hall 1914
Yadin 1963
Aharoni 1977
Hall 1928
Barnet 1966
etc.
Shalev 1988
The Marine Battle of Ra’ameses III against the Sea People
Medinet Habu Temple - Egypt, circa 1180 BC
EB-MB Sword probably from Ashkelon, now in Rockefeller Museum
L.578 W.48 Th.14 Rivets 7
Cu+6%As
EB-MB (EB IV; IB) Weapons
Cu + 2.7-6.0%As & up to 28.5%As on surface
circa 2100BC
So – what do we know now better about IA-I Metallurgy?
Iron or Bronze? Out of more than 700 metal remains from the beginning of the
Iron Age in the Land of the Bible - less than 10 are made of Iron and all others
are of copper based, mainly of bronze.
Metal production: All production remains are of bronze small scale open air
‘Cottage Industry’ making simple objects, by using mainly scrap metal and
melting it inside a clay crucible in a campfire using skin bellow with clay tuyre.
Is the metallurgical evidence contradict or support the Biblical text? As for the
state of evidence today, the location of the production sites in conjunction with
the Philistines sites and the local small village industry mainly for the
production of simple tools – fits well with the Biblical descriptions. But, the
metallurgical evidence, as opposed to the historical reconstruction based upon
the Biblical text, show very clearly that only bronze production and no iron
industry is currently evident to be practiced during the beginning of the Iron
Age in Palestine.
Thank you for your attention