The article considers etch pits that appear in metals and alloys during metallographic etching as an artifact. optical contrasting tools capabilities, such dark field, polarized light, differential interference contrast detecting pits, are demonstrated.

shahdad and yahya which are two important prehistoric sites in the kerman province, are of most important forarchaeometallurgical studies. during excavations at these sites a number of metal objects have been discovered.moreover, evidence of metal working on the surface testify to manifacturing of metal objects. this also shows that thesite might have experienced craft specialization.the follow...