ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the main characteristics and applications of the analytical techniques used to study the circulation of gold in the Past. Accelerator base techniques such as the combination of PIXE, PIXE-XRF and PIGE and activation analysis as well as ICP-MS in liquid mode and with laser ablation were used in this work. The combination of the concentrations of the measured trace elements is used to identify the gold supplies and their provenance. The loss of information on the characteristic trace elements of gold after refining, melting and alloying are cited. The possibilities and limitations of the techniques are shown through three examples concerning different historical periods. Gold coins, nuggets and foils fabricated from the 6th century BC to the 12th century AD in the Mediterranean basin and in Asia were analyzed.
