Complex Study of the Spearhead Superficial Crust from Burial Mound no. 1 near Novosvobodnaya Village

Abstract

A complex study of a spearhead dated back to IV mill. BC from burial mound no. 1 near Novosvobodnaya village (collection of the State Historical Museum) and, in particular, the material of spearhead superficial crust has been performed. The elemental and phase composition of the metal of spearhead and the superficial crust on its surface have been determined by scanning electron microscopy, jointly with energydispersive X-ray microanalysis and X-ray phase analysis. A comparative analysis of the results of studying the spearhead superficial crust and similar crusts on other artifacts from the mounds near Novosvobodnaya village suggest natural origin of the crust on copper‒arsenic artifacts.