Minero‐chemical and provenance analysis of Achaemenian lapis lazuli cylinders from Persepolis

Achaemenian lapis lazuli cylinders from Persepolis, dating to c. 550–330 BCE, were found to originate from the same or similar mines, likely located east of the Iranian Plateau in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. This conclusion was drawn through advanced mineralogical and chemical analysis techniques, including wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The study suggests that Persian artists utilized the ancient East-to-West trade route to source lapis lazuli for decorative objects, providing new insights into Achaemenian trade networks and material culture.

Oudbashi, O., Hessari, M., & Shekofteh, A. (2023). Minero‐chemical and provenance analysis of Achaemenian lapis lazuli cylinders from Persepolis. Archaeometry, 66(1), 57–75. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12903