50929
Author
Lipcsei, Laura; Murray, Alison; Smith, Reginald; Savas, Mahmut
Editor
Vandiver, Pamela B.; Goodway, Martha; Mass, Jennifer L.
Author Affiliation
Queen’s University, Department of Art, Art Conservation Program; Queen’s University, Department of Art, Art Conservation Program; Queen’s University, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering; Bogazici University, Department of Mechanical Engi
Title Of Article Chaper
An Examination of Deterioration Products Found on Tin Ingots Excavated from the 14th Century B.C., Late Bronze Age Shipwreck, the Ulu Burun, near Kas, Turkey
Title Of Journal Book
Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology VI: Symposium held November 26-30, 2001, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Volume
712
Pages
451-459
Collation
9 p. : ills.
Reference Bibliography
Includes bibliographic references
Publisher
Materials Research Society
Publisher City
Warrendale
ISBN
1-55899-648-6
Language Of Text
English
Literature Type
Monograph
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the deterioration of tin ingots recovered from a late 14th century B.C. (Late Bronze Age) shipwreck off Ulu Burun (Kas) Turkey. As so little elemental tin has been excavated from underwater sites and preserved to date, the Ulu Burun ingots offer a unique opportunity to study the degradation products of ancient tin artifacts from a natural marine environment. The current investigation had three major objectives: to identify corrosion products; to confirm or refute the presence of tin pest, which has been asserted as one of the major reasons for the disintegration of the ingots and a topic of much controversy in the conservation and museum communities; and, finally, to contribute to the overall understanding of marine tin. The following instrumental techniques were used to analyze ingot samples: x-ray diffraction, atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. The results of the analysis have identified corrosion products that are characteristic of the type of products anticipated on tin objects from a marine environment. The presence of the controversial tine pest disease was confirmed in two of the six samples tested. Sample preparation appears to be a potential factor in the determination of tin pest using XRD.
Keywords
deterioration; product; tin; ingot; excavation; shipwreck; ulu; burun
pub_id
50929