Authenticity Study of Luristan Bronzes

First millennium B.C. Bronzes from Luristan, a region in west central Iran, are famous for their high quality craftsmanship. At the Krannert Art Museum, several small bronzes were labeled "Luristan." These included an axe-head, a garment pin, and two stag pendants.

To test this attribution, small samples were drilled for atomic absorption spectrometry. This destructive technique measures radiation absorbed by the atoms from different elements in a sample. Concentrations for copper, tin, nickel, lead, iron, and zinc in the Krannert bronzes were then compared to similar data for bronzes belonging a) to central Iran, and b) the Luristan region. The results show that all four bronzes cluster well with other Iranian ancient bronzes, but only the axe-head might truly be called part of the "Luristan" tradition.

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