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Copper-alloy object (earrings?)
Date: Bronze age Materials: Copper-alloy Dimensions: Linked objects: L=5.9 cm W=1.4 cm D=1.2 cm; Individual hook (large): L=2 cm W=0.9 cm; Individual hook (small): L=1/8 cm Institution/Owner: Japanese Institute for Anatolian Archaeology, Kaman-Kalehöyük excavation Key Treatment Steps
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Summary
This copper alloy object was excavated during the 2019 season in the North trench at Kaman-Kalehöyük. When excavated, the object appeared to be comprised of individual interlocked chains, and archaeologists wondered whether these were earrings or some other type of jewelry. The links in the larger mass were held together with burial soil and powdery blue/green corrosion product.
Mechanical cleaning was completed in the field lab using bamboo skewers, microscalpel and brush under magnification. During cleaning, it became clear that there were five separate hooks present in the larger mass. Each hook appears to have been cast, with similar decorative elements on the thick end of the hooks. During cleaning, one of the hooks released from the larger mass - it was not clear whether or not this hook was originally linked, so the attempt to return the hook to the chain was not made.
Following cleaning, the metal surface was degreased by immersion in ethanol. A custom foam support was created for the object. The housing and object were placed into an Escal bag with desiccated silica gel in order to maintain low humidity in storage.
This copper alloy object was excavated during the 2019 season in the North trench at Kaman-Kalehöyük. When excavated, the object appeared to be comprised of individual interlocked chains, and archaeologists wondered whether these were earrings or some other type of jewelry. The links in the larger mass were held together with burial soil and powdery blue/green corrosion product.
Mechanical cleaning was completed in the field lab using bamboo skewers, microscalpel and brush under magnification. During cleaning, it became clear that there were five separate hooks present in the larger mass. Each hook appears to have been cast, with similar decorative elements on the thick end of the hooks. During cleaning, one of the hooks released from the larger mass - it was not clear whether or not this hook was originally linked, so the attempt to return the hook to the chain was not made.
Following cleaning, the metal surface was degreased by immersion in ethanol. A custom foam support was created for the object. The housing and object were placed into an Escal bag with desiccated silica gel in order to maintain low humidity in storage.
Treatment Images
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