NMNH A382234: Ornament - Alligator

Primary Title:

NMNH A382234: Ornament - Alligator

Alternate Title: Owner Object Name

Ornament - Alligator

Keyword Type: Object Class

Pendant

Keyword Type: Object Sub-class

Zoo-Saurian-Alligator

Keyword Type: Owner Provenience Record Type

Accession docs/letters

Keyword Type: Exam Methods

Visual Microscopy

Identifier: Object Number

NMNH A382234-0

Identifier: Owner Accession Number

A382234-0

Identifier: Owner Catalog Number

159473

Note: Owner Information Source

PreColumbian Master; Panama Gold

Note: Object Description

Open back cast crocodile pendant with upturned tube snout and scroll work dorsal spines. Wire-like decoration all done in wax model and cast whole. Suspension loops at two front feet. The surface appears enriched as it is shiny and gold colored while the interior visible at the broken edges is highly mineralized or gone, leaving small hollow pockets (mainly at loss in tail). Casting flaws present in head. Dendritic structure visible at interior of head???

Note: Owner Accession

Gold plated figurine ornaments from Prov. of Veraguas, Panama, collected y Sr. Juan Gratacos, Panama, and from him purchased (Order no.10987) through Dr.J.A Mason. No data on exact site or conditions of finding. All cast in molds and thinly plated

Note: Research Notes

Accession records specify "no info on site." Juan Gratacos, however, did send Lothrop site info on objects at Peabody from Veraguas.

Note: Bibliographic References

Photo neg no. 34637

Note: Condition Review

Fragmentary. Missing large section of tail and back foot, a piece of which is present separately. Enriched surface mostly present intact . Interior alloy is severely corroded, exhibiting black corrosion on interior. Some cross sections reveal bright green center with red/black surrounding corrosion and enriched gold layer on surface. There are areas of green corrosion over the surface. There are several large cracks- esp. at proper left back foot (very fragile)

Note: Follow-up Notes

While a very small piece is present, which would be good for sampling, the interior alloy is extremely corroded and would offer little information on metal structure

Note: Analysis Recommendations

XRF

Time Period: Owner Accession Date

1941

Time Period: Examination Date

11/5/2008

Place: Object Origin

Geographic Zone: VGC Country: Panama Province: Veraguas Site: No info Place Time Period: Site Period

Place: Curation Location

Local place: 1103A00403

Actor: Object Excavator

Sr.Juan Gratacos

Actor: Owner Accession Source

Mason, J Alden; 1941-Mar-29; Purchase; 15 specimens

Actor: Object Owner

NMNH

Actor: Examination Operator

ACH

Condition: Corrosion

Note: Green-core; Red-core; Black-core; Green-surface. Some cross sections reveal bright green center with red/black surrounding corrosion and enriched gold layer on surface. There are areas of green corrosion over the surface.

Condition: Coloration

Note: Gold. Shiny gold surface with green corrosion on top and red/black corrosion underneath. slight amount of shininess and coppery color in areas of black interior visible.

Condition: Usewear Toolmarks

Note: Abrasion; Scratches; Scratches at surface. Corrosion appears to have been reduced in past

Condition: Pseudomorphs

Note: None

Materials:

Gold Alloy Note: Surface is shiny gold with green corrosion present on top and mineralized alloy underneath (visible at cross sections) indicating Cu-alloy.. likely depletion gilded tumbaga

Technique: Fabrication Method

Cast- Open Back Note: Open back cast. Casting flaws present in head. Dendritic structure visible at interior of head???

Technique: Joinery

Note: All in Cast

Technique: Finishing

Note: All in wax model Polished Surface Enrichment. Exterior is shiny while interior of head and legs appears more rough.. indicating some polishing/burnishing. Scratches at surface underneath corrosion

Measurements:

Type:Number of Components Value:1 Units:components

PID	Type	Title	Metadata	URL
si_2768967		A382234_a_20081112_ach	TitleInfo/title A382234_a_20081112_ach Abstract NMNH A382234 overall, verso (2008)	Download
si_2768968		A382234_b_20081112_ach	TitleInfo/title A382234_b_20081112_ach Abstract NMNH A382234 overall, verso (2008)	Download
si_2768969		A382234_c_20081112_ach	TitleInfo/title A382234_c_20081112_ach Abstract NMNH A382234 overall, recto (2008)	Download
si_2768970		A382234_145Kv_03_04_09-adj	TitleInfo/title A382234_145Kv_03_04_09-adj Abstract NMNH A382234 primary fragment overall - X-radiograph (2009)	Download
si_2768971		A382234_01dec08_XRF1	TitleInfo/title A382234_01dec08_XRF1 Abstract NMNH A382234 primary fragment - with XRF (2008 ElvaX) analysis spot #1 indicated	Download
si_568e85156e5ea		Analysis Results (NMNH 3822340)	Idinfo/citation/citeinfo/origin ACH Idinfo/citation/citeinfo/pubdate Unpublished material Idinfo/citation/citeinfo/title Analysis Results (NMNH 3822340) Idinfo/citation/citeinfo/geoform tabular digital data Idinfo/timeperd/timeinfo/rngdates/begdate 11/5/2008 Idinfo/timeperd/current observed Idinfo/status/progress Done Idinfo/status/update As Needed Idinfo/keywords/theme/themekt None Idinfo/keywords/place/placekt None Idinfo/keywords/stratum/stratkt None Idinfo/keywords/temporal/tempkt None Idinfo/taxonomy/keywtax/taxonkt None Idinfo/taxonomy/keywtax/taxonkey None Idinfo/taxonomy/taxonsys/classsys/classcit/citeinfo/pubdate Unpublished material Idinfo/taxonomy/taxonsys/classsys/classcit/citeinfo/geoform database Idinfo/taxonomy/taxoncl/taxonrn Species Idinfo/taxonomy/taxoncl/taxonrv Unknown Idinfo/taxonomy/taxoncl/common Unknown Idinfo/secinfo/secclass Sensitive Dataqual/lineage/method/methodid/methkt None Dataqual/lineage/method/methodid/methkey None Dataqual/lineage/method/methdesc Visual Microscopy Dataqual/lineage/method/methdesc[2] Analysis: XRF Spdoinfo/direct Point Spdoinfo/rastinfo/rasttype Voxel Spref/horizsys/geograph/geogunit Decimal degrees Spref/vertdef/altsys/altunits feet Spref/vertdef/altsys/altenc Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates Spref/vertdef/depthsys/depthem Attribute values Eainfo/detailed/attr/attrmfrq Unknown Distinfo/distrib/cntinfo/cntaddr/addrtype Mailing Metainfo/metc/cntinfo/cntaddr/addrtype Mailing Metainfo/metstdn FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metainfo/metstdv 1999 Metainfo/metsi/metsc None	Download