Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Compositional Study Of The Uni Museum Benin Bronzes Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Elizabeth Akers

Fall 2018 - Chemical Analysis Class Projects

In 1897, the British empire annexed the kingdom of Benin in present day Nigeria.1 Many cultural artifacts, including a large collection of bronze statues and plaques, were taken and distributed among major museums

• Due to their increased demand, many sellers began creating fake bronzes to sell to tourists and collectors alike

• Four Benin bronze artifacts were donated to the museum in 1968 and have been questioned in terms of authenticity based on qualitative analyses