A STUDY ON THE DETERIORATION AND DEGRADATION OF METALLIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS

Our paper presents the way we used non-destructive methods - optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy, combined with energy dispersing X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) - in our research on the morphology of corrosion crusts, the distribution of primary and secondary compounds, the presence of microstructures of contamination from the archaeological site of two metallic artifacts dated to the 2nd and 3rd century A.C.: an iron buckle and a copper alloy pendant, found in the Valeni necropolis, Botesti, Neamt county.