The results of new scientific analyses of gold bracelets from Taksai-1 and an iron sword from Issyk in the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

• The British Museum held the BP exhibition Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia from September 2017 to January 2018. Among the many exhibits were several important objects dating from the early Iron Age on loan from the collection of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including two gold bracelets from the central burial in mound 6 of the Taksai-1 burial ground and an akinakes from the famous burial mound of Issyk. Within the framework of scientific research conducted during the exhibition, laboratory analyses using non-destructive X-radiography, optical microscopy and X-ray fluorescence were used to study the manufacturing and decorative techniques of these objects and superficially analyse their alloy compositions. The results of these new investigations are presented here for the first time.