X-ray, synchrotron, and neutron diffraction analysis of Roman cavalry parade helmet fragment

0350482 - ÚJF 2011 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Smrcok, L. - Petrik, I. - Langer, V. - Filinchuk, Y. - Beran, Přemysl
X-ray, synchrotron, and neutron diffraction analysis of Roman cavalry parade helmet fragment.
Crystal Research and Technology. Roč. 45, č. 10 (2010), s. 1025-1031. ISSN 0232-1300. E-ISSN 1521-4079
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z10480505
Keywords : archaeometry * Roman helmet * phase analysis
Subject RIV: BG - Nuclear, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Colliders
Impact factor: 0.946, year: 2010

A partially corroded fragment of the neck guard of a Roman cavalry helmet excavated in the former military camp of Gerulata, a part of the Limes Romanus on the River Danube, was analysed by laboratory X-ray, synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction. The approximate phase composition determined by the neutron diffraction of the bulk, 82% (wt) of the copper alloy phase, 12 % (wt) of cuprite and 6% of nantokite indicate a significant degree of corrosion of the artefact. Elemental EDX analysis of cleaned surface showed that the chemical composition of the original alloy is 78 to 82 % (wt) of Cu and 21.4 to 16.5 % of Zn with minute amounts of Sn, Si and S. High contents of Cu and Zn with the negligible amount of Sn showed that the body of the helmet was made of brass and not of bronze as expected before. The amount of zinc in the copper alloy calculated from the refined lattice parameter agrees fairly well with the value determined by EDX.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0190480