Archeometallurgical characterization of Late Roman- and Byzantine-period Samaritan magical objects and jewelry made of copper alloys

All the examined gunmetal and brass artifacts contained 4-20 wt.% Zn, indicating that their alloys were originally manufactured by cementation, produced of recycled metal, probably due to economic considerations. The present study indicates the existence of a limited number of local metal workshops which specialized in the manufacture of copper alloy jewelries and related objects; some were apparently operated by Samaritans.