Above: Giulia Marcucci and Calin Steindal are preparing the first batch of coins for the neutron diffraction analysis. Below: Antonella Scherillo and Anna Fedrigo are recording the position of the coins inside the neutron diffraction tank. Photos: Jan Bill
One of the characteristics of the Heimdalsjordet trading site is the high proportion of finds from the East. Apart from eastern-type weights and rock crystal and carneol beads, these included around 170, mostly fragmented, dirhams. Many can be identified, but a large proportion cannot, or are only vaguely identified as to caliphates. Being able to determine the origin of as many of the dirhams as possible contributes significantly to illuminating the trade network of which Heimdalsjordet was a part, and thus to investigate its relation to nearby Kaupang, a significantly larger, but contemporary emporium.
Thanks to the grant permitting us to use the INES neutron diffraction facility the project group - consisting of Calin Steindal and Jan Bill from the Museum of Cultural History together with Anna Fedrico and Antonella Scherillo from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory - in early June 2019 were making a first bulk chemical characterization of well-identified coins originating from mints mainly around Basra and around Samarkand. This will give a first indication of possible relationships between minting regions and chemical composition. Up to 50 coins - also some unidentified - will be included in the first series of analyses. If the results are promising, the project is planned to be expanded.
Last updated 07-06-2019