Microscopic and microanalytical study on Sasanian metal objects from Western Iran: A case study

ABSTRACT Recent archaeological excavation in western Iran discovered a Sasanian palace called Ghaleh Guri (Qela Gowri) beside of the Seimarreh River. As part of the archaeometric studies on the site, five metallic objects (a coin, a disc, a vessel, a decorated strip and some pieces with no specific function) were sampled and analysed using OM and SEM-EDS to determine alloy composition and microstructure. The results showed that strip is made of copper, disc, vessel and unidentifiable object are tin bronze and the coin is made of silver-copper alloy. Tin content in the vessel is about 30 wt% and may be classified as high-tin bronze. The microstructure of samples also revealed that the amount of working and the heat treatment was variable, most likely due to their different compositions.