Goldworking in Mycenaean Thessaly: Technological study of the gold objects from the four tholos tombs in the Bay of Volos

A first comprehensive analytical study of Mycenaean goldworking in the context of the Bay of Volos is offered based on over 165 gold items from the four tholos tombs excavated at Dimini and Volos, including the tomb of Kazanaki found intact. Using XRF, PIXE, optical microscopy, SEM and radiography, this work investigates the composition of the alloys and the production techniques used in this significant region of Thessaly. The results indicate regional workshop practices, with uniform production techniques and consistent alloys, artificially produced likely using alluvial gold. The standardised gold sheet funerary ornaments showing no wear were produced in batches. The objects showing signs of wear were made with the same type of alloys but using different technologies, suggesting that the gold sheets may have been supplied by centralised workshops. To explore the potential influence of cross-cultural exchange, a comparative analysis with objects from the Argolid was conducted. The 34 gold items analysed in this work and data published in previous studies reveal distinct differences in alloy composition and production processes. At Prosymna, the reddish-toned gold beads, some repaired, may reflect either direct trade or regional adaptation influenced by external, perhaps Egyptian, aesthetic and skill. Despite some similarities in goldworking practices across Mycenaean and Egyptian workshops, Egyptian objects show unique features, such as the presence of visible PGE inclusions, the use of hard-soldering techniques and a broader range of gold hues, which highlight the regional specificity of Mycenaean goldworking traditions, particularly in the Bay of Volos.