Analysis of Coronado State Historic Site artifacts using X‐rays

Two historic-period metal artifacts were provided by the New Mexico Historic Sites to Los Alamos National Laboratory for non-destructive analysis. The a crossbow quarrel (or bolthead) and reliquary pendant recovered from Kuaua Pueblo (also known as Coronado Site) in Bernalillo, NM. is heavily patinated that had been flattened due compressive forces. consisted of casing previously surrounded two center gemstones on front rear face pendant. gemstone setting fractured was displaced setting, leaving only small, loose fragment within study. gem appeared be very dark, near-black color, bright red color. analyzed ascertain their composition glean insight into provenance using following X-ray techniques: computed tomography, confocal micro fluorescence, diffraction. Infrared spectroscopy electron microscopy used selected areas. Ultraviolet Raman spectra collected gems material found primarily composed copper. manganese (front gem) calcium (side gem).