Role of radiation physics in the study and authentication of ancient gold work

Ancient gold items are important expressions of different aspects of past civilisations. By using non-destructive techniques of analysis and exam it is possible to obtain data kept within the objects morphology and within the materials employed, providing information, among others, on the manufacturing technologies, on the functions attributed to the objects, and on the sources of raw material exploited. This paper aims to give an overview of the questions raised by cultural heritage objects made with gold, and the role of science-based techniques applied to their study and authentication. Two examples serve to illustrate this: one concerns 19th century restorations of Etruscan objects and the other the provenance of Merovingian gold.

► An overview of the application of radiation techniques for the analysis of ancient gold work is given.
► We focused on non-destructive SEM-EDS, IBA techniques, X-radiography, and optical microscopy.
► Exam is illustrated by the authentication of Etruscan gold jewellery kept in museum collections.
► Fingerprinting gold is illustrated by the elemental analysis of Merovingian items from tombs in Gaul.