EMBRITTLEMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SILVER AND IRON

Embrittlement of originally ductile archaeological metals is, or can be, a complex phenomenon. It is important to understand the details and mechanisms of embrittlement in order to recommend and select the best remedial measures for restoration and conservation. This paper presents a survey of the techniques used to investigate the embrittlement of several ancient embrittled silver objects and an iron pile-shoe from a Roman bridge. These techniques enabled the most probable mechanisms of embrittlement to be determined, leading to recommendations for preserving these and other embrittled objects against further damage.