Non destructive analyses of archaeological metal artefacts

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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
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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
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... 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)

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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) Elad Caspi , Hanania
Ettedgui, Oleg Rivin, Martin Peilstocker, Beni
Breitman, Izhak Hershko, Sana Shilstein, Sariel
Shalev
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The neutron diffraction radiography of the axes
from Shuni
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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 Abrams herdsmen and the herdsmen
of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also
living in the land at that time. (Genesis 13
7).
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If only life could be so simple The similar
finds from Byblos
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Did the Patriarchs go from Canaan down to Egypt?
Hnum Hotep tomb, Beni Hassan, Semites coming to
Egypt
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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.
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How the new metallurgical data could affect the
chronology?
Tin Bronze (16-5 Sn) with no arsenic (1TED)
Axes from Tell el-Daba, Egypt.
Identical axes from Rishon LeZion, Israel
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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
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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)
• 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)

R. LeZion
KV-98 19e x 100
Rumeida
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If the above would remain the only archaeological
data
warrior figurine from Biblos with axe, spear and
dagger
Axe - Kabri
Belt Faraa
Spear - Safed
Baghouz warrior on his death bed
Egyptian hieroglyphs for dead enemy
Dagger Rishon Le Zion
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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.
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and how non destructive analyses could give us
a better insight?
ND of MBII axes in ISIS, UK. 2008
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Non Destructive Analysis The Philistine
Monopoly on Metal Production
The Biblical description
RSV 1Sa 1319 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.
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Distribution of Early Iron Age Metallurgical
Activities
The archaeological data

• Circa 700 metal finds CuSn mainly
• Small local production , mainly
• Philistines sites.
• Simple products some imports Heirlooms

• 120 analyses
• by ICP, WDS, XRF.
• (Shalev, Yahalom, Segal)
• 48 LIA (Yahalom
• Segal)

• 13 sites, mainly in Philistian territory (9)
• Dan, Beth Shean, Megiddo, Yoqneam, Dor, Gerisa,
  Qasile, Aphek, Beth Shemesh

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Metal Production Area in Early Iron Age Tel Dan
R. Ben-Dov Area B
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Bronze Production Remains from Early Iron Age Tel
Dan
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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.
S.Shalev 1993
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Microstructure of an IA-I Crucible-Slag from Tel
Dan
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So is it a typical Philistine metal production
as described in the Bible?
Tel Dor View from its Iron Age Southern Harbor
Garstang J. 1923-4 Stern E. 1980-2000
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Bronze Production Remains Objects from Are G at
Tel Dor
200 metal remains 116 Prills, 54 chunks, slag,
8 crucible frags. 19 objects fragments.
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Crucible for Bronze Melting - Early Iron Age
Tel-Gerisa
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How could non destructive XRF find the missing
link in the field?
Eastern Balk of Are G at Tel Dor
Iron Age I
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Early Iron Age Fire-Pit Section in Are G Balk at
Tel Dor
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The Philistines Metal Arms Superiority Non
Destructive XRF Analysis
RSV 1Sa 1745 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.
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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
Hall 1928
Barnet 1966
Shalev 1988
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The Marine Battle of Raameses III against the
Sea People
Medinet Habu Temple - Egypt, circa 1180 BC
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EB-MB Sword probably from Ashkelon, now in
Rockefeller Museum
L.578 W.48 Th.14 Rivets 7
Cu6As
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EB-MB (EB IV IB) Weapons
circa 2100BC
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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.
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Thank you for your attention