Study of an Iron Age Gilded Silver Earring by XRF, SEM-EDS and Multifocus OM

The use of gold for artefact productions underwent substantial developments during Iron Age in western Europe, with the diversification alloy compositions and introduction new technologies aesthetics. This work presents a detailed study Late earring from Iberian Peninsula discussion taking into consideration alloys used at time. has complex structure, composed block- strip-twisted wires granulation. Characterization by multifocus optical microscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF), micro-XRF scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were performed to obtain information on chemical composition manufacturing techniques. Results show that was manufactured granules made silver-rich alloy, covered gold-rich layer 45 μm thick average, which acted as an external coating making entire resemble gold. is rare example gilded earring, its provides further solutions adopted goldsmiths.