The presence of Au and Ag in Pb-rich slags from Hellenistic Pistyros, N. Greece: some observations

Nerantzis, N. and Photos-Jones, E. (2024) The presence of Au and Ag in Pb-rich slags from Hellenistic Pistyros, N. Greece: some observations. Open Access Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology, 5(2),

Abstract

Pistyros, in NE Greece, is a small fortified urban settlement founded by Thasians on the mainland in the 7th c. BCE; it displays, uniquely for the region, a considerable amount of well contextualized and dated (4th-3rd c. BCE) metallurgical waste (in excess of 1.2 tons); further, the Pb-based metallurgical waste displays presence of Au and Ag. In an area famous, both on historical and geological grounds, for its base (Cu, Pb, Fe) and precious (Au, Ag) metals deposits, there exists, still today, no good evidence for their routine extraction and processing and on a large scale. The questions that arise are related to what was urban Pistyros’ main function. Was it intent on making metals and which ones? Was it making only metals or metal derivatives (oxides or carbonates) as well? We have at this stage no definitive answers. In this paper we focus on the presentation of EPMA (Electron Probe Micro Analysis) results from three slag sample-types (silicate slag, iron arsenides, lead oxides). We examine the presence and distribution of Au and Ag within, and suggest that the two metals probably play a secondary role to the site’s main involvement, i.e. Pb-based metallurgy; be it for the production of antimonial lead and its ‘purification’ for the production of lead oxide and/or for the further processing of iron arsenides. Pistyros polymetallic metallurgical waste interpretation requires careful assessment of what it means to carry out high temperature metallurgical activities for the purpose of acquiring not just metals but possibly, also, metallic mineral derivatives within urban centers; such centers tend to be rare, nuanced, and certainly challenge us to look beyond the ‘precious metal-for-coinage’ axis we have been accustomed to.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Photos-Jones, Dr Effie
• Authors: Nerantzis, N., and Photos-Jones, E.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities
• Journal Name: Open Access Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology
• Publisher: Iris Publishers
• ISSN: 2687-8402
• ISSN (Online): 2687-8402
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 All rights are reserved by Nerantzis Nerantzis
• First Published: First published in Open Access Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology 5(2)
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a creative commons licence