Non-destructive structural studies of coins from the Uzundara Fortress using X-ray diffraction and neutron tomography
Abstract
The copper Heliocles coin and two silver Demetrius coins dated to the II century BC from the archaeological works of the Uzundara fortress of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom were studied using non-destructive structural diagnostics methods. The phase analysis of the coins was performed using the X-ray diffraction method. Also, the spatial distribution of the internal components of the coins was investigated by neutron imaging methods. It has been established that the dominant phase of the Heliocles coin is copper, however, a small volume of patina was found. It is mainly represented by tenorite CuO phase. The neutron tomography method indicates a deep penetration of tenorite into the thickness of the coin, and its volume fraction can reach 10% of the total volume. Two Demetrius coins consist entirely of silver. The complex profile of coins due to the features of a coinage was reconstructed. The phase composition, the content of the composite phases and three-dimensional models of the studied coins were obtained.
About the Authors
Yu. M. TashmetovUzbekistan
Tashkent
B. S. Yuldashev
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
S. M. Adizov
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
N. B. Ismatov
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
Sh. R. Pidaev
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
S. E. Kichanov
Russian Federation
Dubna
B. A. Abdurakhimov
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
D. P. Kozlenko
Russian Federation
Dubna
N. D. Dvurechenskaya
Russian Federation
Moscow
I. A. Saprykina
Russian Federation
Dubna
References
1. N.D. Dvurechenskaya, Proceedings of the First International Congress on Central Asian Archaeology Held at the University of Bern, 4–6 February 2016, (Ed. Christoph Baumer and Mirko Novak, 1st ed., Harrassowitz Verlag, 2019) 153–62.
2. N.D. Dvurechenskaya et al., Archaeological Discoveries (2020) 518–520. (In Russian)
3. O.V. Belsh, Brief Communications of the Institute of Archeology 259 (2020) 371–384. (In Russian)
4. N.D. Dvurechenskaya, Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the memory of Boris Anatolyevich Litvinsky (Moscow, 2018) 99–113. (In Russian)
5. A.N. Gorin, N.D. Dvurechenskaya, Catalog of coins of the Uzundara fortress (Southern Uzbekistan), materials of the Tokharistan expedition 11 (Tashkent: Sanat, 2018) 176 p. (In Russian)
6. E.V. Rtveladze et al., Numismatics and Epigraphy 20 (2018) 89-111. (In Russian)
7. E. Rtveladze, The ancient coins of Central Asia (Tashkent: Publishing house of literature and art named after Gafur Gulyam, 1987) 24 p.
8. P. Thonemann, The Hellenistic World: Using Coins as Sources (Cambridge University Press, 2016) 260 p.
9. L. Beck et al., Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 226 (2004), 153–162.
10. A. Mezzasalma et al., Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 9(2) (2009) 15–28.
11. E.T. Hall, D.M. Metcalf, Methods of Chemical and Metallurgical Investigation of Ancient Coinage (Royal Numismatic Society, 1972) 448 p.
12. K. Podurets et al., Crystallography Reports 66(2) (2021) 254–266.
13. B. Bakirov et al., J. Imaging 7(8) (2021) 129.
14. B.A. Abdurakhimov et al., Journal of Surface Investigation: X-ray, Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques 15 (2021) 1232–1237.
15. T.G. Fawcett et al., Powder Diffraction 33(2) (2018) 88–97.
16. K.A. Sheedy, G. Davis, Neutron imaging for numismatics, Metallurgy in Numismatics 6: Mines, Metals and Money: Ancient World Studies in Science, Archaeology and History (London: The Royal Numismatic Society, 2020) 326 p.
17. B. Bakirov et al., Journal of Surface Investigation X-ray Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques 14 (2020) 376–381.
18. S. Kichanov et al., Journal of Surface Investigation X-ray Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques 11 (2017) 585–589.
19. N. Kardjilov, G. Festa, Neutron Methods for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (Switzerland: Springer, 2017) 349 p.
20. P. Vontobel et al., Physica B 385–386 (2006) 475–480.
21. S. Olsen et al., Materials Research Proceedings 15 (2020) 233–238.
22. A. Mezzi et al., Surface and Interface Analysis (2014) 801–806.
23. J. Rodriguez-Carvajal, Physica B: Condensed Matter 192 (1993) 55–69.
24. H.M. Rietveld, J. Appl. Cryst. 2 (1969) 65–71.
25. B.A. Abdurakhimov et al., Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 989 (2021) 164959.
26. T.G. Mayerhofer et al., ChemPhysChem 21(18) (2020) 2029–2046.
27. C.A. Schneider et al., Nature Methods 9 (2012) 671–675.
28. F. Brun et al., Advanced Structural and Chemical Imaging 3 (2017) 4.
29. M. Griesser et al., Microchemical Journal 126 (2016) 181–193.
30. P.T. Craddock, Journal of Archaeological Science 4(2) (1977) 103–123.
31. E. Sidot et al., Materials Science and Engineering A 393 (2005) 147–156.
Review
For citations:
Tashmetov Yu.M., Yuldashev B.S., Adizov S.M., Ismatov N.B., Pidaev S.R., Kichanov S.E., Abdurakhimov B.A., Kozlenko D.P., Dvurechenskaya N.D., Saprykina I.A. Non-destructive structural studies of coins from the Uzundara Fortress using X-ray diffraction and neutron tomography. Eurasian Journal of Physics and Functional Materials. 2022;6(4):256-265. https://doi.org/10.32523/ejpfm.2022060401