Archaeometallurgy in Messina : Iron slag from a dig at block P, laboratory analyses and interpretation

Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.8, No.1, 2008, pages 49-60

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Pages:
49-60
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Articles
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Abstract:
The archaeological site in Via La Farina, Block P, in Messina, is unique in manyways, due also to the high quantity of samples of iron slag. The slag was examined toidentify the production centres of such materials, and, after characterization, wascompared to similar material, exclusively for product typology, from differentarchaeological sites in the province of Messina, situated in the Peloritani Mountains(Messina city, S. Marco d'Alunzio, Milazzo, Francavilla di Sicilia, Novara di Sicilia aswell as the archaeological site of Halaesa, near Tusa). Mineralogical characterizationof the phases carried out by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Rietveld dataelaboration, morphological study of slag findings and a semi-quantitative analysis byscanning electronic microscope (SEM+EDX) were performed. A chemicalinvestigation was carried out by electron probe micro analysis (EPMA), to determinemajor element,. Minor and trace elements were determined by LA-ICP-MS. All theexamined slag is related to iron metallurgy, and, in the case of Via La Farina, there isfirm archaeological evidence pinpointing to smelting activity.
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Keywords:
iron slag, Messina, archaeometallurgy, XRD, EPMA, LA-ICP-MS
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