NCPTT

Prehistoric Hopewellian peoples of Ohio (ca. 150 B.C. - A.D. 400) produced fine geometric and representational art that played central roles in their social organization and religious practices.

Investigators from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art undertook this project to determine if worn-off or illegible hallmarks on silver and gold works of art could be imaged using scanning acoustic imaging techniques.

Hallmarks on silver objects can reveal much about the history of the piece. the name of the silversmith, the date of manufacture, the quality of the metal alloy, as well as other information can be determined form the study of the hallmarks.