The Belgammel Ram, a Hellenistic‐Roman Bronze Proembolion Found off the Coast of Libya: test analysis of function, date and metallurgy, with a digital reference archive

Abstract

The Belgammel Ram was found off the coast of Libya in 1964, and examined during 2008–9. The following techniques were used: surface non‐contact digitizing using a laser scanner, reflectance transformation imaging using polynomial texture mapping and hemi‐spherical harmonics, digital photogrammetry with dense surface modelling, structured light optical scanning, and X‐ray fluorescence analysis. For internal structure the ram was examined by X‐radiography and 3‐D X‐ray tomography. Metallurgical composition was studied by micro‐drilling and subjecting the samples to scanning electron microscope X‐ray micro‐analysis, micro X‐ray fluorescence and X‐ray backscatter. The lead isotope composition was analysed.

The alloy has average percentage composition = 86.9, = 6.3, = 6.6, and = < 0.10. The elgammel am is probably a ellenistic‐oman proembolion from a small military vessel or tesseraria. The archived data are at the Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Engineering Sciences, Material Data Centre, University of Southampton ([email protected]).

Key words:

• Bronze ram
• Hellenistic‐Roman
• proembolion
• Libya
• Fitzwilliam
• Belgammel

Acknowledgements

Laboratory facilities for this exercise were provided free of charge, and the authors express gratitude to the School of Earth and Ocean Science, University of Southampton; the Dept. of Archaeology, University of Southampton; the Department of Non‐Destructive Evaluation AWE, and the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast.

Ken Oliver inherited the Belgammel Ram and held it in temporary ownership, making it available for research. Paul Bennett, then Chairman of the Society for Libyan Studies, provided the opportunity to work on the ram while the Society for Libyan Studies negotiated its return to Libya, and is now Head of Mission. The Society for Libyan Studies financed design and printing of a brochure of the initial laboratory results; Nic Flemming co‐ordinated the research and publications of the team. Graeme Earl and Jon Adams supervised the optical and laser studies. Ian Croudace, Richard Pearce and Rex Taylor conducted and co‐ordinated the geochemical investigations, involving micro‐XRF, SEM and lead‐isotope analysis. Tim Whiteside and John Moggeridge conducted the X‐Ray tomography and Jon Thompson the white‐light scanning. Annita Antoniadou did the pollen analysis. Chris Hunt prepared and submitted the samples for radiocarbon dating and did the organic‐walled microplankton and palynofacies analysis. Professor Paula Reimer at the 14CHRONO Centre at Queen's University, Belfast, provided the radiocarbon dating.