non destructive analyses of archaeological metal artefacts & the stories in the bible: could...
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
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)
... From the time of the Patriarch until the time of struggle between the Israelites and the Philistines in Canaan
(MBI – IA1: 1800-1000 BCE)
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)
El’ad Caspi , Hanania Ettedgui, Oleg Rivin, Martin Peilsto¨cker, Beni Breitman, Izhak Hershko, Sana Shilstein, Sariel Shalev
So, could it be the ‘Sheppard's Chief’ symbol of status?
‘‘Abram had become verywealthy 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 Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.’’ (Genesis 13: 7).
Did the Patriarchs go from Canaan down to Egypt?
Hnum Hotep tomb, Beni Hassan, Semites coming to EgyptHnum Hotep tomb, Beni Hassan, Semites coming to Egypt
What could we add to the known material and metallurgy? What could we add to the known material and metallurgy?
Similar metals were found in Israel Similar metals were found in Israel and in Egypt and were analyzed and in Egypt and were analyzed recently. recently.
On the basis of “old” and “new” data On the basis of “old” and “new” data we could now check the metal we could now check the metal composition typical to each of the composition typical to each of the metal weapons typical to this period.metal weapons typical to this period.
How the new metallurgical data could affect the chronology?How the new metallurgical data could affect the chronology?
Axes from Tell el-Dab’a, Egypt.
Identical axes from Rishon LeZion, Israel
Tin Bronze Tin Bronze (16%-5% Sn)(16%-5% Sn) with no arsenic with no arsenic ((+1TED)+1TED)
Metal composition of shafthole axes from MBIIa and MBIIbMetal composition of shafthole axes from MBIIa and MBIIb
No.No. SiteSite Reg. No.Reg. No. CuCu AsAs SnSn PbPb FeFe AnalysisAnalysis
11 HamaHama 5E-8025E-802 86.60 0.30 5.305.30 5.10 0.05 (Levant 23)
22 YiftahelYiftahel P-46P-46 85.46 0.12 12.2712.27 1.90 0.01 EPMA
33 K.VradimK.Vradim KV 98-19KV 98-19 88.42 0.03 10.0610.06 1.18 0.05 EPMA
44 AphikAphik 80.13 0.35 9.769.76 0.45 0.07 AAS
55 YiftahelYiftahel P-45P-45 93.59 0.19 6.006.00 0.10 0.04 EPMA
66 FasutaFasuta F-34F-34 90.03 4.34 0.02 4.35 0.73 EPMA
77 GesherGesher 89-58789-587 93.71 3.47 0.03 0.04 2.27 EPMA
No.No. SiteSite Reg. No.Reg. No. CuCu AsAs SnSn PbPb FeFe AnalysisAnalysis
11 JerichoJericho 29/6329/63 86.07 0.45 6.68 1.23 0.02 (Khalil 1980)
22 AphekAphek 10764/6010764/60 71.56 0.19 6.50 0.15 0.29 AAS
33 JerichoJericho 29/6229/62 86.33 1.63 6.72 0.10 0.16 (Khalil 1980)
44 RumeidaRumeida T-34T-34 93.78 3.42 0.14 0.61 0.81 EPMA
Compositional characterization of the shafthole axesCompositional characterization of the shafthole axes
Flat shafthole axes were similarly made of:Flat shafthole axes were similarly made of:• Arsenical copper Arsenical copper (3.5%-4.3% As)(3.5%-4.3% As) with no tin with no tin• Tin bronze Tin bronze (12%-5% Sn)(12%-5% Sn) with less then 0.5% with less then 0.5% arsenic. arsenic. (+3TED)• Lead in much lower quantities then in the Lead in much lower quantities then in the above above (5%-1% Pb)(5%-1% Pb) was detected in both alloying was detected in both alloying types. types. (+1TED)
Rounded shafthole axes were also made of: Rounded shafthole axes were also made of: • Arsenical copper Arsenical copper (1.6%-3.4% As)(1.6%-3.4% As) with no tin with no tin (+4TED). . •All the tin bronzes have similar amount of tin All the tin bronzes have similar amount of tin (6.5%-6.8% Sn),(6.5%-6.8% Sn), (+3TED)•(2TED only Fe, As 0.5 or n.d.; 1TED only Cu)
RumeidaRumeida
KV-98 19e x 100KV-98 19e x 100
R. LeZionR. LeZion
If the above would remain the only archaeological data …
Axe - Kabri
Belt – Fara’a
Dagger – Rishon Le Zion
Spear - Safed
warrior figurine from Biblos with axe, spear and dagger
Baghouz Baghouz warrior on his warrior on his death bed death bed
Egyptian Egyptian hieroglyphs for hieroglyphs for dead enemy dead enemy
The Middle Bronze Age metal artifacts: what do we already know?The Middle Bronze Age metal artifacts: what do we already know?
Hundreds of copper- base objects were Hundreds of copper- base objects were unearthed, mainly in burials, all over the unearthed, mainly in burials, all over the Levant in the last 150 years of archaeology. Levant in the last 150 years of archaeology.
In the Middle Bronze Age (end of 3rd – In the Middle Bronze Age (end of 3rd – middle of 2nd Millennium B.C) the middle of 2nd Millennium B.C) the development of more complex weapons development of more complex weapons (longer daggers, swords, complex battle axes (longer daggers, swords, complex battle axes etc.) was made possible by alloying the copper etc.) was made possible by alloying the copper initially with arsenic (As) and later tin (Sn) to initially with arsenic (As) and later tin (Sn) to produce arsenical copper and tin bronze. Lead produce arsenical copper and tin bronze. Lead (Pb) begin to play a greater role as a major (Pb) begin to play a greater role as a major alloy as well. alloy as well.
……and how non destructive analyses could give us a better insight? and how non destructive analyses could give us a better insight?
ND of MBII axes in ISIS, UK. ND of MBII axes in ISIS, UK. 2008 2008
-2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 200
5
10
15
20
25
30
Co
nc
en
tra
tio
n, %
in
w
eig
ht
Distance from the top, mm
Pb, face A Pb, face B Sn, face A Sn, face B
top bottom
Scan along the blade (2 mm from the edge)
The Biblical description:
Non Destructive Analysis & The “Philistine Monopoly” on Metal Production
RSV 1Sa 13:19 Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of RSV 1Sa 13:19 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
Tel DorTel Dor
Tel DanTel Dan
Tel GerisaTel GerisaTel QasileTel Qasile
Distribution of Early Iron Age Metallurgical Activities
The archaeological data
• Circa 700 metal Circa 700 metal finds – Cu+Sn finds – Cu+Sn mainlymainly
• Small local Small local production , production , mainly mainly Philistines sites.Philistines sites.
• Simple products + Simple products + some imports & some imports & HeirloomsHeirlooms
• +120 +120 analyses analyses
• by ICP, by ICP, WDS, XRF.WDS, XRF.
• (Shalev, (Shalev, Yahalom, Yahalom, Segal)Segal)
• 48 LIA 48 LIA (Yahalom (Yahalom
• & Segal) & Segal)
• 13 sites, mainly in Philistian 13 sites, mainly in Philistian territory (9) :territory (9) :
• Dan, Beth Shean, Megiddo, Dan, Beth Shean, Megiddo, Yoqneam, Dor, Gerisa, Qasile, Yoqneam, Dor, Gerisa, Qasile, Aphek, Beth ShemeshAphek, Beth Shemesh
Crucible-Slag from the IA-I Bronze Production area at Tel Dan
L.7060Cu+1.4/4.7%Sn
L.7126Cu+0.6/6.8%Sn
L.7119Cu+1.7/1.9%Sn
L.71 and 15
S.Shalev 1993
13 analyses (WDS + AAS) of crucible slags & prills, 18
analyses of objects & fragments.
Tel Dor: View from its Iron Age Southern Harbor
Area G
Harbor
Garstang J. 1923-4; Stern E. 1980-2000
So – is it a typical Philistine metal production as described in the Bible?
Bronze Production Remains & Objects from Are G at Tel Dor
Slag
B94482
Slags
181360
Ring pieces
91569
Metal prills
Arrowhead
47829
Needle
98338
Pin
180192
Scrap
98206
Metal piece
98810
B94466
Slag
Scrap
180505
Awl
182131
+200 metal remains:116 Prills, 54 chunks, slag, 8 crucible frags. 19 objects & fragments.
How could non destructive XRF find the ‘missing link’ in the field?
Iron Age II Iron Age II
Late Bronze AgeLate Bronze Age
Iron Age I Iron Age I
Eastern Balk of Are G at Tel Dor
Early Iron Age Fire-Pit Section in Are G Balk at Tel Dor
F17F17
F18F18
F16F16
CaCa
FeFe
CuCuSrSr
XRF Analysis of Gray Ash
Ca
Fe
Cu Sr
XRF Analysis of white Calcite from the IA-I Fire-Pit from Tel Dor
Ca
Fe
Cu Sr
XRF Analysis of Burnt Ground from the IA-I Fire-Pit from Tel Dor
Ca
Fe
Sr
XRF Analysis of Ash from the IA-I Courtyard near the Fire-Pit
The Philistine’s Metal Arms Superiority & Non Destructive XRF Analysis
RSV 1Sa 17:45 Then David RSV 1Sa 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.have defied.
“A Shardanian weapon also used by the Philistines, discovered at the Biblical site of Beth-Dagon, near Jaffa”
Purchased in 1910 by the British Museum
Hall 1914
Hall 1928
Yadin 1963
Barnet 1966 etc.
Aharoni 1977
B.M. 127137 L.1065 W.84 Th.14 Rivets 12
The “Philistine” Sword from the British Museum
Shalev 1988
The Marine Battle of Ra’ameses III against the Sea People
Medinet Habu Temple - Egypt, circa 1180 BC
So – what do we know now better about IA-I Metallurgy?
Iron or Bronze? Iron or Bronze? Out of more than 700 metal remains from the beginning of the 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 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. are of copper based, mainly of bronze.
Metal production: Metal production: All production remains are of bronze small scale open air All production remains are of bronze small scale open air ‘Cottage Industry’ making simple objects, by using mainly scrap metal and ‘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.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? Is the metallurgical evidence contradict or support the Biblical text? As for the As for the state of evidence today, the location of the production sites in conjunction with 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 the Philistines sites and the local small village industry mainly for the production of simple tools – fits well with the Biblical descriptions. But, the production of simple tools – fits well with the Biblical descriptions. But, the metallurgical evidence, as opposed to the historical reconstruction based upon metallurgical evidence, as opposed to the historical reconstruction based upon the Biblical text, show very clearly that only bronze production and no iron 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 industry is currently evident to be practiced during the beginning of the Iron Age in Palestine.Age in Palestine.