The technology behind ancient mirrors: non-invasive microstructural characterization by ToF-ND of Bronze artefact from the Ancient Greek colony of Locri, Calabria, Italy

Locri Epizefiri, one of the most important colonies of western Greece, in the modern region of Calabria (southern Italy), is known for flourishing craftsmanship that developed between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC. One of the most famous Locrian bronze productions, and also one of the most refined in the Greek world as well, is represented by mirrors, dozens of which have been found in sanctuaries and tombs. Here we propose to analyse 5 samples from the National Archaeological Museum of Locri: a simple handle type, two lyre handle type, an Ionic handle type mirrors and another Ionic type handle only in order to obtain metallurgical information about the composite structure of these mirrors. We propose non-invasive quantitative phase analysis and semi-quantitative microstructural analysis by using ToF-ND.