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Lead Isotope Analysis of Pewter Mounts from the Viking Ship Burial at Gokstad: on the Origin and Use of Raw Materials
Author(s) -
Pedersen U.,
Andersen T.,
Simonsen S.,
Erambert M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12222
Subject(s) - provenance , lead (geology) , isotope analysis , archaeological science , isotope , archaeology , geology , oceanography , geography , geochemistry , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics
Lead isotope analysis was combined with an investigation of style and technology in a study of pewter mounts from the Viking ship burial at Gokstad, Norway. The different methods reinforced one another and yielded a detailed picture of a ninth‐century working process, demonstrating the potential of applying lead isotope analysis to artefact studies independent of the question of provenance. They provided evidence of the mounts being produced as a set, and signs of mixing demonstrate that it is important to be cautious when discussing provenance. England and Melle, France are indicated to be the most likely origin of the lead.