Technical and Scientific Methods of Authentication

When ancient objects are removed from their original archaeological locahon, they lose much of their inihal value to the scholar, since site, posi-hon, and surroxmdings convey a great deal of informahon about an object and also enable its authenhcahon. Authenticating isolated objects relies on the fact that antiquihes carry within themselves evidence of the hme and place of their manufacture (Jones 1992 Jaffe and Van der Tweel 1979). 

Many material properhes lend themselves to the authenhcahon of objects the composihon and the physical and chemical properties of materials and their decay products provide objechve criteria for establishing the authenticity of archaeological objects. Contradictions between the claimed origin or 

Metal Casting Techniques. Many ancient cast metal objects were made by the cire perdue (lost wax) casting process, which involves pouring molten metal into a one-piece mold and letting it solidify modem fakes are usually cast in two halves that are then joined. A casting fin, or a fine line of filed solder on a cast object, usually reveals that the casting is modem. 

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