Large three-fingered hands

DNA analysis

ABRAXAS

Analysis of metal implants

Ring implant

This sample is composed of an iron-carbon alloy (average 78% iron and 5% carbon) rich in chromium (average 16%), however EDS analysis does not allow us to distinguish between steel (stainless) and cast iron (white). It should be noted that although this alloy does not contain nickel in its intrinsic composition, it is detected very locally in one of the analysis areas in an almost pure concentration (average 85%), which would indicate the existence of a nickel passivation layer for this sample (a hypothesis to be considered apart from a possible exogenous contribution, such as contamination from the tools used for extraction, for example). We would therefore have for this sample a steel or cast iron, possibly covered on the surface with a layer of nickel, plausibly deposited by electroplating (chemical or electrolytic bath). We also observe a mineral chemical signature for this sample, which is probably of exogenous origin (mineral gangue).

Disc-shaped implant

In the context of this study, this gold-silver alloy is entirely consistent in terms of composition with the alloys used in pre-Columbian times. The presence of impurities such as iron inclusions also supports this theory, as it is a plausible indicator of the use of a native gold-silver alloy in the design of the object, given that pre-Columbian metallurgists did not have fully mastered the processes required to produce this type of alloy. It is also plausible that a “depletion gilding” type finish was applied to the object from which the sample was taken, whose alloy would then be a gold-silver-copper alloy characteristic of many pre-Columbian objects and significantly richer in copper in terms of mass proportion, known as tumbaga.