Recognizing Renaissance or older bronzes from modern ones

Recognizing Renaissance or older bronzes from modern ones | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Short Report Recognizing Renaissance or older bronzes from modern ones Sana Shilstein, Yishay Feldman, Yoav Farhi, Sariel Shalev This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6852220/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences → Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract X-ray diffraction analysis of bronze coins of the 1-19th century AD and modern bronzes has shown that the natural aging process of the Pb - Sn solid solution in lead inclusions lasts approximately 350 years. During this period, the concentration of tin in the lead inclusions drops from 3 at% or more to 1 at%. This result makes it possible to recognize not only ancient artifacts, but also artifacts (sculptures etc.) made up to the end of the 17th century (also Renaissance artifacts) and distinguish them from their modern copies or fakes. X-ray diffraction Pb-Sn solid solutions in lead inclusions natural aging of lead inclusions in bronze artifacts Figures Figure 1 1.1 Introduction Bronzes (Cu-Sn or Cu-Sn-Zn alloys) often have Pb added to improve casting and mechanical properties. Only lead does not dissolve in copper and forms micro-sized inclusions, which are a solid solution tin in lead with 3 at% Sn (Effenberg and Ilyenko 2018 ). By analyzing modern bronzes using X-ray diffraction (XRD), previous study (Shilstein et al. 2019 ) also found that the Tin Concentration in Lead Inclusions (henceforth TCLI) was at least about 3 at%, while in bronzes, produced from 4th BCE to 14th century CE, the TCLI was only about 1 at%. This also means that the solubility of Sn in Pb at room temperature can drop in the phase diagrams of Pb-Sn and Cu-Sn-Pb from 3 to 1 at%. The natural aging phenomenon is studied in detail especially in aluminum alloys (Banhart 2016) where the equilibrium state of the solid solution is reached in a brief time (days). In our case, extrapolating the diffusion coefficients of tin in lead from elevated temperature (Oberschmidt et al. 1982 ) to room temperature, it turns out that the estimated time required for the release of tin from micro-sized lead inclusions will be about ten hundred years. As already noted in a previous article (Shilstein et al. 2019 ), we showed that the natural aging of a Pb-Sn solution in lead inclusions lasts no more than from 14th century CE to the present. Now we were able to analyze the bronze coins of the missing centuries. The importance of this result is that it demonstrates the possibility of exposing forgeries of bronze antique or Renaissance artifacts (for example, sculptures). 2.1 Materials and methods The composition of coins was determined by XRF using a hand-held Niton analyzer with an accuracy of about 0.5%wt. As for local analysis of inclusions, the method of Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy in a Scanning Electron Microscope (EDS in SEM) is usually well suited. However, this approach is not suitable for the detection of tin dissolved in lead inclusions (Valerio et al. 2012 ). Vegard's method to estimate TCLI by measuring the lead lattice parameter using XRD technique is used. Although these metals have different crystal structures, as shown in (Tyzack and Raynor 1954 ), the lattice parameter of lead changes linearly at low concentrations of tin. Thus, TCLI can be determined using the lattice parameter of 4.9511 Å for pure Pb and the linear change of this value for Pb-Sn solid solutions according to Vegard's rule of -0.0014 Å per one at% Sn. It should also note that copper, zinc, and arsenic do not dissolve in lead (Effenberg and Ilyenko 2018 , Esdail and Sweet 1983 , Shishin et al. 2019 ), so the lattice parameter of lead inclusions in bronze changes only as result of tin dissolution. The flat surfaces for XRD analysis were prepared by grinding sandpaper (up to 10 µm grid size) and polishing on glass surface using Al 2 O 3 powders with various grain sizes (up to 0.05 µm) moistened with ethanol. Such a procedure is necessary to preserve real TCLI in the near-surface layer of the bronze with a thickness of about two microns, as was previously established (Shilstein et al. 2019 ). Only the large Japanese 100 Mon coin (1835 -1870CE) and other bronze coins (Japanese coin from 1708CE, Korean coin from 1731CE and Ottoman coin from 1808-1849CE), examined without above detailed process, since they have a flat surface large enough for XRD analysis. XRD measurements conducted out in reflectance mode using a TTRAX III (Rigaku, Japan). The diffractometer has a rotating Cu anode tube operating at 50 kV, 240 mA and with a scintillation detector. A bent Graphite monochromator used at the diffracted beam. A specular diffraction ( θ /2 θ scan) made in Bragg-Brentano geometry with variable slits. The minimum inspected area of the sample was approximately 1 cm 2 . The samples scanned from 28 o to 117 o with steps of 0.02 o and a scan speed of 0.5 o /min. The values of the lead lattice parameter were calculated using Jade Pro (MDI, US) software from positions of the first five diffraction lines in the XRD patterns, similarly to the procedure described in detail in (Shilstein et al. 2019 ). The measurement accuracy of the Pb lattice parameter was determined in (Shilstein et al. 2019) on lead standards and bronze samples and is about 0.0003–0.0004 Å. However, the accuracy depends on the amount of lead in the bronze and the capability of the XRD setup. Among the coins studied here, the lowest lead content was about 5wt%, and the corresponding accuracy was not worse than 0.001 Å. The accuracy of TCLI determination is estimated at about 0.5at % for Sn. It is worth recalling that, due to the strong attenuation of the CuKα radiation in Pb, the XRD data are only representative of the surface layer (approximately 2 µm thick). 3.1 Results and Discussion The list of the studied coins and determined TCLI is presented in Table 1 . Table 1 No Description Composition %wt %at Sn Reference 1111 1 Coin of Herod Agrippa I, 1/2 CE 6% Sn, 9% Pb, 85% Cu 1.4 Published previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. 2019 ) 2 Coin of Porcius Festus 59–62 CE 6% Sn, 14% Pb, 80% Cu 0.6 Published previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. 2019 ) 3 Umayyad coin 8th Century CE No.1 3.5% Sn, 1% Zn, 16% Pb, 79.5% Cu 0.9 Collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) 4 Umayyad coin 8th century CE No.2 6% Sn, 16% Pb, 78% Cu 1.2 Collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) 5 Mamluk coin, 14th century CE 6% Sn, 16% Pb, 78% Cu 0.6 Published previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. 2019 ) 6 Vietnamese coin of Hi Nguyen Thon Bao, 1381–1382 CE 6% Sn, 12% Pb, 82% Cu 0.4 Published previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. 2019 ) 7 Ottoman coin, 1574–1617 CE 4% Sn, 16% Pb, 80% Cu 1.2 Collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) 8 Japanese coin 1 Mon, 1668–1683 CE 9% Sn, 24% Pb, 67% Cu 0.9 En.Numista.com (sellers of the analyzed coin) 9 Japanese coin, 1708 CE 2.5% Sn, 10% Pb, 87.5% Cu 1.7 Kadman Numismatic Pavilion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv (No. K48394) 10 Korean coin 1731 CE 2.7%Sn, 8.0%Zn, 7%Pb, 82%Cu 2.2 Kadman Numismatic Pavilion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv (No. K-37214) 11 Ottoman coin, 1808–1849 2.5% Sn, 22% Pb, 75.5% Cu 2.2 Kadman Numismatic Pavilion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv (No. K-48393) 12 Japanese coin 100 Mon, 1835–1870 CE 5.5%Sn, 3%Zn, 0.5%As 10%Pb, 81%Cu 3.2 En.Numista.com (sellers of the analyzed coin) 13 Japanese coin 4 Mon, 1863-1867CE 2.5%Sn, 10.5%Pb, 87%Cu 5.2 En.Numista.com (sellers of the analyzed coin) The obtained TCLI of all coins issued before the end of the 17th century CE are distributed around an average value of 1 at% (Table 1 and Fig. 1 ). This is consistent with the results of the bronze artefacts dated earlier than 1400 CE (Shilstein et al. 2019 ). On the other hand, two coins from the middle of 19th century have the same TCLI as modern bronzes, namely from 3 to 5 at% (Fig. 1 ). It means that the first period of aging for Pb-Sn solution in lead inclusions without change of concentration is about 170 years. But in three points from about 1680–1850CE the TCLI is between 1 and 3at.%. Thus, these data show that TCLI has more than halved diminishing for TCLI during second period of aging, about 170 years, and full duration of aging for Pb-Sn solution is about 350 years. To follow the dynamics of this process, one should consider the change in TCLI values over time (in Fig. 1 from right to left). Similarly to the studied natural aging processes in other alloys (Banhart 2016 ), we can see two stages. At the first stage, there is no noticeable change in the TCLI value for about 170 years, since at this stage small particles of a new tin phase appear inside or at the boundaries of the Pb inclusions. At the second stage, during the next about 170 years (correspondingly, the period between the middle of the 19th and the end of the 17th centuries), TCLI decreases by more than two times. This is due to the diffusion of tin from the Pb-Sn solid solution into a new tin phase and the growth of particles at this stage. The entire process of natural aging of a supersaturated Pb-Sn solid solution in lead inclusions lasts approximately 350 years. Finally, the most important result of this study is that the proposed method will now allow us to distinguish not only fakes from antique bronzes, but also from Renaissance bronzes. This is because the change in TCLI occurs in bronzes made significantly later than the Renaissance. 4.1 Conclusion In the present study it showed that the process of natural aging of the Pb - Sn solid solution lasts 350 years. It was shown using X-ray diffraction that all analyzed tin-leaded bronzes, produced from ancient times to the end of 17th century, have a TCLI of about 1 at%, while in modern bronzes TCLI is about 3 at% or more. Moreover, TCLI remains at 3 at% in the bronzes made in the mid-19th century but decreases to 1 at% in the bronzes produced about 170 years earlier. Such a two-stage process is typical for natural aging of solid solutions; the only difference is how long it takes. Perhaps the most important result is that with this method it is possible to distinguish antiques and Renaissance works of art produced from tin-leaded bronze (sculptures, etc.) from their modern copies or fakes, provided, however, that the lead content in these bronzes is not less than about 5 wt%. Declarations Author Contribution San.S. Conceptualization, writingYi.F. Methodology, writingYo.F. Resources, data curationSar.S. Supervision, project administrationAll authors reviewed the manuscript Acknowledgement The authors express thanks to Y. Sfez, I. Baidoun and V. Bernshtam for their help and G. Artioli for his helpful discussions References Effenberg G. and S. Ilyenko (2018). Ternary Alloy Systems Phase Diagrams, Crystallographic and Thermodynamic Data Critically Evaluated by MSIT®, Sub volume C, Non-Ferrous Metal Systems, Part 3 Selected Soldering and Brazing Systems. In Landolt-Börnstein. Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology, New Series, Group IV: Phys. Chem. Vol. 11, Ed. by W. Martienssen, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 368–389. Shilstein,S., Berner,A., Feldman,Y., Shalev,S., and Rosenberg,Y. (2019). Distinguishability between ancient and modern leaded tin bronzes by the composition of their lead inclusions, STAR: Science and Technology of Archaeological Research, 5 (2) 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2019.1649082 Banhart, J. Age hardening of aluminum alloys (2016), in ASM Handbook Volume 4E: Heat Treating of Nonferrous Alloys, G. E. Totten, (Ed.), ASM International, Materials Park, OH (USA) 214 -301. Oberschmidt , J., Kim, K.K. , and Gupta, D. (1982). Grain‐boundary diffusion in some Pb‐Sn alloys, J. Appl. Phys. 53 (8), 5672-5677, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.331452 Valerio, V. P., Silva, R. J. C., Araújo, M. F., Soares, A. M. M. and Barros, L. (2012). A Multianalytical approach to study the Phoenician bronze technology in the Iberian Peninsula – A view from Quinta do Almaraz, Mater. Charact., 67, 74–82. Tyzack, C., and Raynor, G.V. (1954). Lattice spacing of lead-rich substitution solid solutions, Acta Cryst. 7, 505-510. Esdaile, J.D. and Sweet, F. (1983). Thermodynamic properties and phase diagram of the zinc-lead system, Metall. Trans. A, 14, 2211-2218. Shishin, D., Chen J., Hidayat, T., Jak, E. (2019). Thermodynamic modelling of the Pb – As and Cu – Pb – As systems supported by experimental Study, J. Phase Equilibrium Diff., 40, 758-767. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 06 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 14 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 22 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 11 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 11 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 10 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 09 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6852220","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Short Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":469906303,"identity":"7b5d344a-a65c-4b2c-b5f9-0bb4908143d0","order_by":0,"name":"Sana Shilstein","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABHUlEQVRIie2PsUrDQBiA/xC4LLG33qDNK5wEioPoq+QIdEp8BQOF61Sy6ltk7GbCgV2iXRPSoR3MVCFuLUTwDhcpF10d7lsO7v6P/zsAg+H/krsjdQRwDWD/vN/+oiA1GsD0RAmGFUDfo+LkQaN485eig35zjvC62O6Wa5Y6zlt2XG4Az3NLt4WWdyGxeOsiEtqUlQ17nMG0XpQtkDLQhlGIKLESIRUbEcabOBPwXJ1xWVjp/+Kle/8AvVSwcA6Mv8ZPwuL1p1S8AQWqaEIASQVCBIzncWbbqFFb6IBCq/3kinEVFvoyLLx/EAg1F/LmsmSJPizyq64XtxgXu48jv/Fxumrrdy7G45UQXacJU+iCwQWwkgHBYDAYDH/wBQWpbWTlkDXoAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Weizmann Institute of Science","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sana","middleName":"","lastName":"Shilstein","suffix":""},{"id":469906304,"identity":"69d91804-5750-47b3-a1d5-304e2d25d01b","order_by":1,"name":"Yishay Feldman","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Weizmann Institute of Science","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yishay","middleName":"","lastName":"Feldman","suffix":""},{"id":469906305,"identity":"b378270d-44c2-4aed-ae08-94495e8c9580","order_by":2,"name":"Yoav Farhi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Tel Aviv University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yoav","middleName":"","lastName":"Farhi","suffix":""},{"id":469906306,"identity":"e65165fd-6e1c-469f-8cca-c7ecc80eda7e","order_by":3,"name":"Sariel Shalev","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Haifa","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sariel","middleName":"","lastName":"Shalev","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-09 08:23:07","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6852220/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6852220/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-025-02377-2","type":"published","date":"2026-01-03T15:57:51+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":84551615,"identity":"b3cfe63f-bf7d-442d-8034-bbe953bb935b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-13 10:28:32","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":15399,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eTCLI in bronze coins and modern bronzes.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6852220/v1/326e5f3df6c3c72633a8e6c5.png"},{"id":99545418,"identity":"a9f19f3b-d45a-429c-80be-5ecd2bc7f596","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-05 16:07:21","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":346242,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6852220/v1/c8e59678-17fa-4a52-9b53-05503db685cf.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Recognizing Renaissance or older bronzes from modern ones","fulltext":[{"header":"1.1 Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eBronzes (Cu-Sn or Cu-Sn-Zn alloys) often have Pb added to improve casting and mechanical properties. Only lead does not dissolve in copper and forms micro-sized inclusions, which are a solid solution tin in lead with 3 at% Sn (Effenberg and Ilyenko \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). By analyzing modern bronzes using X-ray diffraction (XRD), previous study (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) also found that the Tin Concentration in Lead Inclusions (henceforth TCLI) was at least about 3 at%, while in bronzes, produced from 4th BCE to 14th century CE, the TCLI was only about 1 at%. This also means that the solubility of Sn in Pb at room temperature can drop in the phase diagrams of Pb-Sn and Cu-Sn-Pb from 3 to 1 at%.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe natural aging phenomenon is studied in detail especially in aluminum alloys (Banhart 2016) where the equilibrium state of the solid solution is reached in a brief time (days). In our case, extrapolating the diffusion coefficients of tin in lead from elevated temperature (Oberschmidt et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e1982\u003c/span\u003e) to room temperature, it turns out that the estimated time required for the release of tin from micro-sized lead inclusions will be about ten hundred years.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs already noted in a previous article (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), we showed that the natural aging of a Pb-Sn solution in lead inclusions lasts no more than from 14th century CE to the present. Now we were able to analyze the bronze coins of the missing centuries.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe importance of this result is that it demonstrates the possibility of exposing forgeries of bronze antique or Renaissance artifacts (for example, sculptures).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2.1 Materials and methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe composition of coins was determined by XRF using a hand-held Niton analyzer with an accuracy of about 0.5%wt. As for local analysis of inclusions, the method of Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy in a Scanning Electron Microscope (EDS in SEM) is usually well suited. However, this approach is not suitable for the detection of tin dissolved in lead inclusions (Valerio et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVegard's method to estimate TCLI by measuring the lead lattice parameter using XRD technique is used. Although these metals have different crystal structures, as shown in (Tyzack and Raynor \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e1954\u003c/span\u003e), the lattice parameter of lead changes linearly at low concentrations of tin. Thus, TCLI can be determined using the lattice parameter of 4.9511 Å for pure Pb and the linear change of this value for Pb-Sn solid solutions according to Vegard's rule of -0.0014 Å per one at% Sn. It should also note that copper, zinc, and arsenic do not dissolve in lead (Effenberg and Ilyenko \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e, Esdail and Sweet \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e1983\u003c/span\u003e, Shishin et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), so the lattice parameter of lead inclusions in bronze changes only as result of tin dissolution.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe flat surfaces for XRD analysis were prepared by grinding sandpaper (up to 10 µm grid size) and polishing on glass surface using Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e powders with various grain sizes (up to 0.05 µm) moistened with ethanol. Such a procedure is necessary to preserve real TCLI in the near-surface layer of the bronze with a thickness of about two microns, as was previously established (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Only the large Japanese 100 Mon coin (1835 -1870CE) and other bronze coins (Japanese coin from 1708CE, Korean coin from 1731CE and Ottoman coin from 1808-1849CE), examined without above detailed process, since they have a flat surface large enough for XRD analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eXRD measurements conducted out in reflectance mode using a TTRAX III (Rigaku, Japan). The diffractometer has a rotating Cu anode tube operating at 50 kV, 240 mA and with a scintillation detector. A bent Graphite monochromator used at the diffracted beam. A specular diffraction (\u003cem\u003eθ\u003c/em\u003e/2\u003cem\u003eθ\u003c/em\u003e scan) made in Bragg-Brentano geometry with variable slits. The minimum inspected area of the sample was approximately 1 cm\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The samples scanned from 28\u003csup\u003eo\u003c/sup\u003e to 117\u003csup\u003eo\u003c/sup\u003e with steps of 0.02\u003csup\u003eo\u003c/sup\u003e and a scan speed of 0.5\u003csup\u003eo\u003c/sup\u003e/min. The values of the lead lattice parameter were calculated using Jade Pro (MDI, US) software from positions of the first five diffraction lines in the XRD patterns, similarly to the procedure described in detail in (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe measurement accuracy of the Pb lattice parameter was determined in (Shilstein et al. 2019) on lead standards and bronze samples and is about 0.0003–0.0004 Å. However, the accuracy depends on the amount of lead in the bronze and the capability of the XRD setup. Among the coins studied here, the lowest lead content was about 5wt%, and the corresponding accuracy was not worse than 0.001 Å. The accuracy of TCLI determination is estimated at about 0.5at % for Sn. It is worth recalling that, due to the strong attenuation of the CuKα radiation in Pb, the XRD data are only representative of the surface layer (approximately 2 µm thick).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3.1 Results and Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe list of the studied coins and determined TCLI is presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescription\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComposition %wt\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e%at Sn\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eReference\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1111 1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoin of Herod Agrippa I, 1/2 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6% Sn, 9% Pb,\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e85% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublished previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoin of Porcius Festus 59–62 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6% Sn, 14% Pb, 80% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublished previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUmayyad coin 8th\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCentury CE No.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.5% Sn, 1% Zn, 16% Pb, 79.5% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollection of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUmayyad coin 8th\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ecentury CE No.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6% Sn, 16% Pb, 78% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollection of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMamluk coin,\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14th century CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6% Sn, 16% Pb, 78% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublished previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVietnamese coin of Hi Nguyen Thon Bao, 1381–1382 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6% Sn, 12% Pb, 82% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublished previously and detailed in (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOttoman coin,\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1574–1617 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4% Sn, 16% Pb, 80% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollection of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJapanese coin 1 Mon, 1668–1683 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9% Sn, 24% Pb, 67% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEn.Numista.com (sellers of the analyzed coin)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJapanese coin, 1708 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.5% Sn, 10% Pb, 87.5% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKadman Numismatic Pavilion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv (No. K48394)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKorean coin 1731 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.7%Sn, 8.0%Zn, 7%Pb, 82%Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKadman Numismatic Pavilion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv (No. K-37214)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOttoman coin, 1808–1849\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.5% Sn, 22% Pb, 75.5% Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKadman Numismatic Pavilion, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv (No. K-48393)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJapanese coin 100 Mon, 1835–1870 CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.5%Sn, 3%Zn, 0.5%As 10%Pb, 81%Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEn.Numista.com (sellers of the analyzed coin)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJapanese coin 4 Mon, 1863-1867CE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.5%Sn, 10.5%Pb, 87%Cu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEn.Numista.com (sellers of the analyzed coin)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe obtained TCLI of all coins issued before the end of the 17th century CE are distributed around an average value of 1 at% (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). This is consistent with the results of the bronze artefacts dated earlier than 1400 CE (Shilstein et al. \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). On the other hand, two coins from the middle of 19th century have the same TCLI as modern bronzes, namely from 3 to 5 at% (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). It means that the first period of aging for Pb-Sn solution in lead inclusions without change of concentration is about 170 years. But in three points from about 1680–1850CE the TCLI is between 1 and 3at.%. Thus, these data show that TCLI has more than halved diminishing for TCLI during second period of aging, about 170 years, and full duration of aging for Pb-Sn solution is about 350 years.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo follow the dynamics of this process, one should consider the change in TCLI values over time (in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e from right to left). Similarly to the studied natural aging processes in other alloys (Banhart \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e), we can see two stages. At the first stage, there is no noticeable change in the TCLI value for about 170 years, since at this stage small particles of a new tin phase appear inside or at the boundaries of the Pb inclusions. At the second stage, during the next about 170 years (correspondingly, the period between the middle of the 19th and the end of the 17th centuries), TCLI decreases by more than two times. This is due to the diffusion of tin from the Pb-Sn solid solution into a new tin phase and the growth of particles at this stage. The entire process of natural aging of a supersaturated Pb-Sn solid solution in lead inclusions lasts approximately 350 years.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinally, the most important result of this study is that the proposed method will now allow us to distinguish not only fakes from antique bronzes, but also from Renaissance bronzes. This is because the change in TCLI occurs in bronzes made significantly later than the Renaissance.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4.1 Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn the present study it showed that the process of natural aging of the Pb - Sn solid solution lasts 350 years. It was shown using X-ray diffraction that all analyzed tin-leaded bronzes, produced from ancient times to the end of 17th century, have a TCLI of about 1 at%, while in modern bronzes TCLI is about 3 at% or more. Moreover, TCLI remains at 3 at% in the bronzes made in the mid-19th century but decreases to 1 at% in the bronzes produced about 170 years earlier. Such a two-stage process is typical for natural aging of solid solutions; the only difference is how long it takes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerhaps the most important result is that with this method it is possible to distinguish antiques and Renaissance works of art produced from tin-leaded bronze (sculptures, etc.) from their modern copies or fakes, provided, however, that the lead content in these bronzes is not less than about 5 wt%.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSan.S. Conceptualization, writingYi.F. Methodology, writingYo.F. Resources, data curationSar.S. Supervision, project administrationAll authors reviewed the manuscript\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors express thanks to Y. Sfez, I. Baidoun and V. Bernshtam for their help and G. Artioli for his helpful discussions\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEffenberg G. and S. Ilyenko (2018). Ternary Alloy Systems Phase Diagrams, Crystallographic and Thermodynamic Data Critically Evaluated by MSIT\u0026reg;, Sub volume C, Non-Ferrous Metal Systems, Part 3 Selected Soldering and Brazing Systems. In \u003cem\u003eLandolt-B\u0026ouml;rnstein. Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology, New Series, Group IV: Phys. Chem.\u003c/em\u003e Vol. 11, Ed. by W. Martienssen, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 368\u0026ndash;389.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShilstein,S., Berner,A., Feldman,Y., Shalev,S., and Rosenberg,Y. (2019). Distinguishability between ancient and modern leaded tin bronzes by the composition of their lead inclusions, STAR: Science and Technology of Archaeological Research, \u003cstrong\u003e5\u003c/strong\u003e(2) 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2019.1649082\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBanhart, J. Age hardening of aluminum alloys (2016), in ASM Handbook Volume 4E: Heat Treating of Nonferrous Alloys, G. E. Totten, (Ed.), ASM International, Materials Park, OH (USA) 214 -301.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOberschmidt\u003cem\u003e, \u003c/em\u003e J., Kim, K.K.\u003cem\u003e, \u003c/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e \u003c/em\u003e Gupta, D. (1982). Grain‐boundary diffusion in some Pb‐Sn alloys, J. Appl. Phys. \u003cstrong\u003e53\u003c/strong\u003e(8), 5672-5677, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.331452\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eValerio, V. P., Silva, R. J. C., Ara\u0026uacute;jo, M. F., Soares, A. M. M. and Barros, L. (2012). A Multianalytical approach to study the Phoenician bronze technology in the Iberian Peninsula \u0026ndash; A view from Quinta do Almaraz, Mater. Charact., 67, 74\u0026ndash;82.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTyzack, C., and Raynor, G.V. (1954). Lattice spacing of lead-rich substitution solid solutions, Acta Cryst. 7, 505-510. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEsdaile, J.D. and Sweet, F. (1983). Thermodynamic properties and phase diagram of the zinc-lead system, Metall. Trans. A, 14, 2211-2218.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShishin, D., Chen J., Hidayat, T., Jak, E. (2019). Thermodynamic modelling of the Pb \u0026ndash; As and Cu \u0026ndash; Pb \u0026ndash; As systems supported by experimental Study, J. Phase Equilibrium Diff., 40, 758-767. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"archaeological-and-anthropological-sciences","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"aasc","sideBox":"Learn more about [Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences](http://link.springer.com/journal/12517)","snPcode":"12520","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12520/3","title":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"X-ray diffraction, Pb-Sn solid solutions in lead inclusions, natural aging of lead inclusions in bronze artifacts","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6852220/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6852220/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eX-ray diffraction analysis of bronze coins of the 1-19th century AD and modern bronzes has shown that the natural aging process of the Pb - Sn solid solution in lead inclusions lasts approximately 350 years. During this period, the concentration of tin in the lead inclusions drops from 3 at% or more to 1 at%. This result makes it possible to recognize not only ancient artifacts, but also artifacts (sculptures etc.) made up to the end of the 17th century (also Renaissance artifacts) and distinguish them from their modern copies or fakes.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Recognizing Renaissance or older bronzes from modern ones","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-13 10:28:28","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6852220/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-11-06T22:30:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-14T16:46:31+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"6172458380846503634882607118439081007","date":"2025-06-23T12:04:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-22T10:23:34+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"143902826682962220522245465639906439665","date":"2025-06-22T08:27:53+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-11T13:58:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-11T11:25:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-06-10T08:02:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","date":"2025-06-09T08:07:32+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"archaeological-and-anthropological-sciences","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"aasc","sideBox":"Learn more about [Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences](http://link.springer.com/journal/12517)","snPcode":"12520","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12520/3","title":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"9f5c2f80-3bde-48f5-acb9-fed79f7f135d","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 13th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-05T16:03:23+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6852220","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-025-02377-2","journal":{"identity":"archaeological-and-anthropological-sciences","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-03 15:57:51","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 3rd, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-13 10:28:28","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02377-2","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-025-02377-2","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6852220","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6852220","identity":"rs-6852220","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}