Estudio microscópico y microanalítico de las soldaduras y otros procesos técnicos en la orfebrería prehistórica del Sur de la Península Ibérica

Abstract

Goldwork welding techniques appear for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula during Final Bronze Age. But it is not till the Orientalizing period that welding is applied to granulation and filigree work. The complexity of these techniques require a microscopic and microanalytical study in order to find out its nature. This study was made by means of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with an Energy Dispersive System (EDS) microanalysis unit. The reasons for the choice of this equipment were the versatility and viriety of information the SEM is able to obtain. So, we had the opportunity to examine other fabrication processes in the image mode of the SEM as well as wear and corrosion signs not visible with optical instruments. This study was basically aimed at the avoidance of drawing general conclusions on incomplete results based on a very limited amount of non-representative samples. Over 60 items have been studied coming from several sites in the southern Iberian Peninsula, and belonging to the Archaeological Museums of Sevilla, Cádiz and National of Madrid. In all, the samples cover a lapse of time extending from Early Chalcolithic to the Iberían period, but most samples belong to the Orientalizing and Iberian periods. The conclusions obtained have made possible to determine the characteristics of the Cadiz workshop and the identification of another two workshops in Extremadura and Andalusia.