JOURNAL ARTICLE

Museum artifacts rewrite the timeline of gold refining.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2025. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Kornei, Katherine 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses new research suggesting that the ability to refine gold may have originated earlier than previously believed, with evidence found in ancient Egyptian and Persian artifacts. A team of researchers led by an isotope geochemist analyzed 21 artifacts from the Louvre Museum and discovered that some dated to before 1600 B.C.E. contained silver consistent with being a byproduct of gold refining. This challenges the long-held belief that gold refining began with the Lydians around 600 B.C.E. While some archaeologists support these findings, others call for further investigation to rule out contamination concerns. Overall, the study enhances understanding of the historical development of gold refining techniques. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2025/08, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Chemistry
  • Publication Date:2025
  • Accession Number:187394831
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