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31-52-259 Micrograph

 

Inv. 31-52-259
Holdfast or handle
A cut right across the tip of the more openly curved end: magnification, 400x
Etchant: Klemm’s III
(Sn, <0.020%; As, 0.55%; Ni, 0.18%)

The microstructure consists of polyhedral grains that, in their twinning and slight distortion, are indicative of an annealing treatment after a moderate amount of cold-working. Rough-shaped inclusions, which most likely are remnants of non-metallic material (matte) that became entrapped in the copper during its original smelting, are dispersed relatively lightly throughout the interior (cf., the inclusion density in micrographs for the two sickles, 32-21-100 and 32-21-102).

Microhardness VHN: 106 ± 12 (n=5)
Uniform, though a gradual decrease VHN values (122 to 85) is consistent with heavier working close to the artifact’s squared-off sides. Interpretation of these data may be complicated, however, both by the presence of such sizable pieces of smelting debris, and by the hammering that shaped each the artifact’s end.