Micro-SR-XRF studies for archaeological gold identification—the case of Carpathian gold and Romanian museal objects

In the determination of the provenance of gold in archaeological artifacts, trace elements are more significant than the main components. Several minute fragments of natural Carpathian gold—placer and primary—and some very small (a few milligrams) fragments of archaeological items were studied using micro Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (micro SR-XRF) at the BESSY Synchrotron Facility in Berlin, Germany. The goal of the study was to identify the trace elements characterizing Carpathian gold, looking especially at Sn, Sb, Pb and Te, and to determine if the gold in the archaeological items is native or refined. Applications to the authentication and provenance of nine Dacian gold bracelets, koson coins and two Bronze Age items are presented.