The Analysis of the Chemical Composition of the Metal Items Made in the Late Roman Polychromic Style from the Crimean Piedmont Sites

The paper publishes the first results of the analytical study focusing on the items made in the late Roman polychromic style that come from the sites in the Crimean piedmont area. A series of analyses performed using the XRF method has shown that the pendants, bracelets, strap ends and pectoral jewelry from the Neizats and Opushki cemeteries are made of silver containing a varying percentage of pure silver in the alloy. All items are dated to the period ranging from the first half of the 3rd century AD to the first half of the 4th century AD. Both silver and copper alloy with silver in the range of 20 % were used to make items dating to the first half of the 3rd century; the items dating to the second half of the 3rd – first half of the 4th centuries are made of billon (base silver), «yellow» and fine silver. When a jewelry piece was assembled, components made of silver with a varying percentage of pure silver in the alloy were used; the face plates with inserts made of carnelian or glass were gilded using a diffusion method. Various components of the jewelry were put together using lowmelting solder (SnPb) or lead; the same alloy was used as a «pad» underneath a carnelian or a glass insert, a mount for anchoring inserts was made in the gilded face plate.