ANCIENT METALLURGY AT SUMHURAM (SULTANATE OF OMAN): TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF RAISED INSCRIPTIONS ON SOUTH ARABIAN BRONZES

This paper focuses on the identification of alloys and the manufacturing techniques used for inscribed bronze vessels from Sumhuram (modern Khor Rori, Sultanate of Oman). A group of 19 fragments (dating back to the first to second century ad), thought to belong to the same inscribed vessel, were investigated with the aim of identifying the manufacturing process. The fragments were analysed by scanning electron microscopy with both energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) and micro-Raman probe, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), as well as X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The results indicate that these fragments belong to different artefacts that all consist of leaded bronze. However, three different groups were identified on the basis of the composition and microstructure of the fragments. The fragments bearing inscriptions were produced by lost-wax casting with the ‘wax-thread moulding’ technique (in which each letter is shaped separately with segments of wax lace on the sheet of the wax model).

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