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MC‐ICP‐MS analyses of tin isotopes in Roman‐era bronze coins reveal temporal and spatial variation
Author(s) -
Bower N. W.,
Lundstrom C. C.,
Hendin D. B.
Publication year - 2019
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.12459
Subject(s) - bronze , geology , isotope , fractionation , archaeology , bronze age , geochemistry , mineralogy , chemistry , geography , physics , quantum mechanics , organic chemistry
Tin's small mass fractionation and the lack of accepted reference standards have hindered Sn isotopy in archaeology and conservation science. Because of ore field variation and potential fractionation during ore reduction, attempts to determine artefacts’ ore sources have been limited. After norming the fractionations to NIST 3161a (Lot #070330), significant differences in Sn isotope mass fractionation in Judaean bronze ‘Biblical’ coins minted by different rulers during the first centuries bce and ce were discovered. These variations and those in δ 65 Cu and 206 Pb/ 204 Pb are connected to historical events in the Levant.