outline 2

I. Introduction to metal-based artifacts

II. Artifacts around the world and the Philippines
III. Corrosion
IV. Dating archaeological artifacts
V. Conservation and restoration techniques
VI. conclusion
What is an ARTIFACT? 3

an object recovered by archaeological endeavor, which may be

a cultural artifact having cultural interest

Artifacts can come from any archaeological context or source

such as:
Buried along with a body
From any feature such as a midden or other domestic
setting
Votive offerings
Hoards, such as at wells
Metal-based artifacts 4

produced from ores that are found in nature and are processed,
or smelted, from a stable mineral state to a less stable metallic
state
also often layered together, as in the case of silver plated on a
base metal substrate or tin plated on an iron substrate
WHY CONSERVE?
The trace of old civilization can be evaluated through the
artifacts they left behind. In order to keep those artifacts
available for the generations to come, it is important to restore
and/or conserve theme.
5
6
corrosion 7

Biggest enemy of metal artifacts; primary means by which

metals deteriorate
contact with water, acids, bases, salts, oils, aggressive metal
polishes, and other chemicals
Noble metals corrode less
Galvanic corrosion can also occur
Other sources of deterioration for metal objects include
breakage, dents, and scratches from accidents or mishandling
 8

Dating Archaeological
Copper/Bronze Artifacts
(Method: voltammetry of microparticles/vmp)
The Method 9

assumptions
the composition of the samples and the conditions of
conservation/aging can be considered to be similar
The corrosion proceeded uniformly during the entire
lifetime of the artifact
The Method 1
0
basis
determining the tenorite/cuprite ratio by exploiting the
production of well-differentiated voltammetric responses by
such compounds

2Cu2O + O2 4CuO
thermodynamically spontaneous process
favored by the prolonged contact of the artifacts with a Carbon
dioxide-rich atmosphere as well as with calcareous materials
The Method 1
1
Electrochemical experiment
a three-electrode cell under argon atmosphere
Aqueous 0.25 M sodium acetate buffer at pH 4.75 as a
supporting electrolyte

Voltammetry was coupled with sem-edx, ftir, and light

microscopy
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2
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3
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4
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5
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7

Conservation technique
(Method: 5-amino-2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole)
The problem: bronze disease 1
8
Formation of cuprous chloride and reaction with atmosphere

2Cu2Cl2 + [O] CU2O + 2CuCl2

CuCl2 + Cu Cu2Cl2
Method: washing using amt 1
9
Sample: corroded muslim coins and head of
god
Washing with distilled water and amt
(catalyzed by nitric acid) under vacuum
Xrf and ir were used to assess method
results 2
Xrf confirmed the appearance of 0
bronze disease (presence of atacamite
and botallacite in spectra)
Ir spectra confirmed the complexation
of amt with the metal surface
Humidity tests had no significant effect
on
the composition of the surface
Method was capable of completely
removing
bronze disease, even from the
micropores
of corroded coins, and making the
 2
1
Take note: Restoration of metal
objects does not stop the
production of various corrosion
products
Layering Transparent film 2
2
polyvinyl alcohol water
Poly(methyl methacrylate), solvent acetone :
toluene - 1:3, toluene or chloroform
Polystyrene solvent: toluene
conclusion 2
3
Approx. age of an artifact is
important
artifacts can be approached
for the restoration and
Conservation
Judgments regarding the
authenticity of the artifacts
(coins) studied can be made
Reference journals 2
4
A. Domenech-Carbo, M.T. Domenech-Carbo, S. Capelo, T. Pasies, & I. Martinez-Lazaro
(2014) Dating Archaeological Copper/Bronze Artifacts by Using the Voltammetry of
Microparticles. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed, 53, 9262 9266, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201404522
I. Dumitriu, R. C. Fierascu, A. Catangiu, M. Neata, R. M. Ion, & R. Somoghi (2011) A
synthetic approach into the restoration and conservation of metal artifacts (coins), Journal
of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Vol. 13, No. 7, July 2011, p. 874 - 878
M.C. Ganorkar, V. Pandit Rao, P. Gayathri & T. A. Sreenivasa Rao (1988) A novel method
for conservation of copper-based artifacts, Studies in Conservation, 33:2, 97-101, DOI:
10.1179/sic.1988.33.2.97