Aes rude from excavation in the sancituary of Pyrgi (Santa-Severa - Rome) [Studio archeometallurgico preliminare su aes rude del santuario etrusco di Pyrgi]

This paper reports the results of preliminary study carried out on one of the many aes rode from excavation in the Sanctuary of Pyrgi (Santa Severa - Rome) near the port of Caere (Cerveteri), one of the main towns of southern Etruria. The findings in this area of the Sanctuary, which include a large number of votive offerings mainly dating the 5th and 4th centuries B.C., bear witness to constant workship up to the end of the 3rd century B.C. The aes rude found in the southern area of the sanctuary consists of two different groups. The aim of analyses, so far carried out on aes rude, is to gain information on metallurgy techniques and to determine the provenance quarries of the raw materials, within the broader framework of a study on metallurgy, sources of supply and circulation of raw materials in South Etruria. Qualitative analyses were carried out for information on the various components, and impurities. EDS analyses on the sample show that it is made of copper almost pure, X-ray analyses reveal wide copper areas, chloride zones, and iron-oxide inclusions. There are, also sulphides and little inclusions with the mean following composition: 22% Cu, 66% Bi, 4% Pb. As is not present. The studied aes rude is different in composition to previously studied similar objects, suggesting that its ore came from not actually known mineralized areas with such a composition (namely presence of Bi, and lack of As) was mined. This aes rude is probably of an earlier period in respect to that coming from nearer areas or from the second groups from the same area. Further studies on samples from second group will improve the knowledgments and will resolve some open questions.