Conservation and Analysis of Coins from Badalpur Monastery, Taxila Valley: A Study of Cleaning Methods

Abstract

The main objective and aim of this research under the title ‘Conservation and Analysis of Ancient Coins from Badalpur Monastery, Taxila Valley: A Study of Cleaning Methods’ is to establish Archaeometallurgical study of metals. The aim of this research is to investigate the possible benefits and consequence of a conservation system of metal objects through a literature review. This research deals with the analysis of 34 coins and the problems of conserving such material. In this research is to find the most suitable method for the conservation of poorly preserved ancient coins. Firstly the coins analysed by proper documentation and photography before cleaning method. After which comparative experiments of different cleaning methods have been carried out in order to find out the least harmful and most efficient method. Researcher used different techniques like mechanical, chemical and electrolysis techniques normally when researcher conserved 34 coins artefacts. A research also deals with the experiments to determine the necessity and efficiency of stabilizing the surface of the ancient coins after cleaning and make a proper catalogue and chronology of Badalpur site through these 34 coins. Researcher has been found out the elemental composition of copper coin sample which was excavated from Badalpur Site through non-destructive technique Proton Induce X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). Researcher resulted that copper coins were minted during the ruin of Kushan Dynasty (1st century CE-4TH century CE). The elements Co, Cr, Fe and Zn have been detected in copper coin sample along with the major component of Cu. Five elements have been determined quantitatively and examined the correlation between the composition and the minting time period.