Methods of engraving Mesopotamian cylinder seals: experimental conformation
Methods of engraving Mesopotamian cylinder seals: experimental conformation
Previous observations of the intaglios on quartz cylinder seals from Western Asia suggested that they had been engraved by one or more of four basic techniques, that is, micro-chipping, filing, drilling and wheel-cutting. In this paper we test our earlier observations and interpretations experimentally. Examination and comparison of experimentally engraved features with the seal intaglios was made directly with a binocular microscope and also by examination of impressions with a scanning electron microscope. Successful replication was achieved using tools of flint, chalcedony, copper, bronze and iron together with quartz and emery abrasives.
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Sax, M.
ed38c9b4-8e2d-413e-9d9b-938d4c310507
Mcnabb, J.
59e818b1-3196-4991-93eb-75ed9c898e71
Meeks, N.D.
9342e7f9-cf79-4394-a5b1-dfbc24cf4b0f
February 1998
Sax, M.
ed38c9b4-8e2d-413e-9d9b-938d4c310507
Mcnabb, J.
59e818b1-3196-4991-93eb-75ed9c898e71
Meeks, N.D.
9342e7f9-cf79-4394-a5b1-dfbc24cf4b0f
Abstract
Previous observations of the intaglios on quartz cylinder seals from Western Asia suggested that they had been engraved by one or more of four basic techniques, that is, micro-chipping, filing, drilling and wheel-cutting. In this paper we test our earlier observations and interpretations experimentally. Examination and comparison of experimentally engraved features with the seal intaglios was made directly with a binocular microscope and also by examination of impressions with a scanning electron microscope. Successful replication was achieved using tools of flint, chalcedony, copper, bronze and iron together with quartz and emery abrasives.
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Published date: February 1998
Organisations:
Archaeology
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Local EPrints ID: 396424
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/396424
ISSN: 0003-813X
PURE UUID: 3fafce6b-0593-45ec-baea-8c1a9fc175e2
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Date deposited: 05 Aug 2016 15:09
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:07
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Author:
M. Sax
Author:
N.D. Meeks
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