By
Óscar García Vuelta (presenter)
Ignacio Montero Ruiz (presenter)
Summary
Thousands of metal artifacts from recent Prehistory are preserved in museums and other European institutions. In many cases these objects are the result of chance finds made decades ago and information on their recovery circumstances has been lost. Sometimes, they also present conservation problems related to their complex biography. As a consequence of these vicissitudes, the interest that these collections arouse in today's society is scarce and their presence in museum showcases has little appeal. In this contribution we will argue the advantages of combining scientific research, conservation and valorization when we approach these archaeological objects. We will use as an example the Late Bronze artifacts from the archaeological collection of the University of Santiago de Compostela. Our work has included the exhaustive documentation of the material (22 objects, mainly palstaves), its archaeometric characterization (elemental composition using XRF, Pb isotopes, radiocarbon dating of organic remains…), the reconstruction of the vicissitudes of the collection from archival sources, the restoration of the pieces or the creation of 3D models. The results of this work have been the basis of a temporary exhibition that has been accompanied by other scientific dissemination activities.The integration of these three approaches - basic research, conservation and valorization - allows for reciprocal enrichment between them, contributing to the advancement of archaeological knowledge and at the same time increasing the social value of these collections. From this perspective, our work with the Bronze Age artifacts of the University of Santiago de Compostela constitutes a pilot experience that can be applied to many other European collections.
Keywords
Archaeometallurgy. Conservation. Bronze Age metalwork.