Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

Laboratory Studies on the Alloy Composition and Microstructural Features of Metal Objects from the Taj Amir (Dehnow) Cemetery, Yasuj, Dating to the Second Millennium BCE

https://doi.org/10.22034/jaco.2025.540548.1488
Volume 14, Issue 51
Spring 2026
Pages 16-31
Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Elham Tavakoli Nesab 1
Hamidreza Bakhshandehfard 2

1 Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Isfahan University of Arts, Iran

2 Department of Conservation of Historical Objects, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Isfahan Art University, Iran

Abstract
The study and understanding of ancient technologies used for producing and utilizing metals in various objects across different regions of Iran are of great importance. With the invention of copper-based alloys, such as tin bronze and arsenical bronze, ancient craftsmen achieved a remarkable level of technical knowledge and metallurgical skill. The archaeological site of Taj Amir Cemetery is located on the southern slopes of the Dena mountain range, in the eastern part of Yasuj (Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, southwestern Iran). This cemetery was identified in 2009 CE during construction activities related to the new library of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. Excavations at the site yielded a collection of metal artifacts, particularly bronze objects, from burial contexts. In the present study, a selection of the better-preserved bronze artifacts—chosen for their diversity in form and function and belonging to contemporaneous burial layers of the Taj Amir (Dehnow) cemetery were subjected to laboratory analyses, including metallography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The objective was to obtain a clearer understanding of alloying technology and manufacturing techniques during the mid-second millennium BCE. For this purpose, microstructural analysis, scanning electron microscopy with EDS, and XRF elemental analysis were employed to determine the compositional and structural characteristics of the samples. The results revealed that two of the analyzed specimens were made of tin bronze alloys with relatively consistent tin contents, indicating that the ancient metallurgists had considerable knowledge of tin control in the bronze-making process. Moreover, one sample exhibited a high silver content, confirming its silvery appearance. Structural evidence suggests that these objects were produced by smelting, casting, and subsequent hammering, involving repeated cycles of cold working and annealing during the shaping process.

Keywords

Taj Amir Cemetery
Bronze
Microstructural Analysis
XRF
SEM-EDS
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