A MULTI-ANALYTICAL APPROACH FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF BRONZE MIRRORS FROM THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTION OF ANCIENT MESSENE, GREECE

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Ancient Messene, located in the southern Peloponnese, is one of the most impressive and well-preserved cities of the Hellenistic-Roman period in Greece. Excavations have revealed a vast archaeological site with impressive buildings and tombs. The on-site museum houses a rich collection of copper alloy artifacts dating from the 4th century BC to the 5th century AD, including everyday objects related to the activities and customs of Messenian society. The paper presents research that employed a systematic multi-analytical approach, combining an archaeological (classification/typology) and a condition assessment with diagnostic techniques, to better understand the technological features and conservation needs of the collection. Specifically, the paper focuses on ten bronze mirrors from dated funerary contexts (3rd century BC to 1st century AD), representing four different archaeological types. These luxury items were associated with the upper class in ancient Messene. This combined approach links the mirrors in the metals collection of Ancient Messene with their archaeological context and technological features, providing insights into local and imported metalwork, the function of the objects, and their social significance within Messenian society. The technological features, such as manufacturing, decorative, and finishing techniques, were investigated using various examination and spectroscopic analytical techniques (X-ray radiography, pXRF and μXRF, and LIBS), mainly non-invasively. The evaluation of the results provided information on a) the frequency of occurrence and distribution of common and distinctive morphological and technological features (such as shape, form, plating, and decoration); b) identification of manufacturing and finishing technologies; c) conservation priorities based on condition assessment; d) dating issues and the use and function of the mirrors in relation to the everyday activities, customs, and habits in Messenian society; and e) technological evolution.

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