Counterfeiting Ancient Golden Objects, Can It Be Done?

My question is that since Gold doesn't tarnish or age with time like bronze, iron or other metals, couldn't it be relatively easy for a goldsmith to counterfeit artifacts? How can you carbon date a metal that doesn't age? Or am I misguided in my assumption that gold is easy to manipulate but doesn't show signs of age?

Could a goldsmith concievably countereit a solid gold sarcophagus and claim it was real?

If you have the money to make a solid gold sarcophagus, why would you need to try to trick someone. 1200 dollars an ounce is enough money, think how much to line a sarcophagus. I would sell the gold and retire.

a reply to: rickymouse

Well, it would seem very silly to counterfeit a sarcophagus if you did have that much gold... thank you for pointing that out.

a reply to: Asynchrony
I think this is an issue more of manufacturing technology than material technology. In order to get away with it you would have to manufacture it with the tools and technology of the period. When looking at it closely with the equipment we have now a days you would easily be able to see machine marks etc. and unless you knew what tools and processes they used then it wouldn't match period sarcophagus.

This is what's so incredible about the crystal skulls, even with today's technology we can't create one. Yet they exist here on earth and no one knows how they were made or how they got here.

Not too easy.

There's something called Uranium, Thorium, 4-Helium Analysis that will tell you the last time the gold was heated to the melting point. It's very accurate.

But before you get to that point there's a bunch of other tests that may root out a fake, like looking at the composition of the metal, determining impurities, method of manufacture and so on.

This, of course, doesn't stop people from trying.

originally posted by: Moresby
Not too easy.

There's something called Uranium, Thorium, 4-Helium Analysis that will tell you the last time the gold was heated to the melting point. It's very accurate.

But before you get to that point there's a bunch of other tests that may root out a fake, like looking at the composition of the metal, determining impurities, method of manufacture and so on.

This, of course, doesn't stop people from trying.

That made in China stamp will give it away.

a reply to: MarlinGrace

But the thing is that with gold it is very easy to smooth out machine marks with a small pounding tool, a wash rag and a good dose of experience. Like frigid butter.

originally posted by: Moresby
Not too easy.

There's something called Uranium, Thorium, 4-Helium Analysis that will tell you the last time the gold was heated to the melting point. It's very accurate.

But before you get to that point there's a bunch of other tests that may root out a fake, like looking at the composition of the metal, determining impurities, method of manufacture and so on.

This, of course, doesn't stop people from trying.

Alright then. Makes sense. Thank you.

a reply to: rickymouse

Money and wealth pale in comparison to control, especially controlling perceptions and historical artifacts. The ruse being accepted is priceless, well worth the efforts of disinformation that leads us away from the evidentiary facts. An elite pastime rooted in nefarious intentions. The opinions changed and false knowledge consumed and regurgitated as fact would be incentive enough for a costly hoax. So, the motivation is there and has, is, will be executed. One can only guess which artifacts we so passionately accept are bogus. Some fakes become obvious, put the OP raises a good point about gold properties, and we all know how ancient gold artifacts grab our attention!

a reply to: Boscov

The prize of manipulating is worth more than gold. Control the past control the future.

a reply to: Boscov

Some people like to scam others. It is getting others to believe their deception that is what is important to them. Many of these people are intelligent people who think that their intelligence and prestige gives them a right to deceive others. They often get the legal system to back them because of their prestigious position yet it is all a scam. I know some people like this, retired professors and people with a lot of credentials. Even people in high places of law enforcement use their position to deceive people sometimes. These kind of people pepper the earth, promoting deception and teaching others the trick of the trade. They are in every class of people, with the best of the best winding up in politics often...many making it into congress and the white house. Many laws have been designed by these people.

Why waste your time on a sarcophagus, use the gold to get into politics. The return is better.

originally posted by: Asynchrony
a reply to: MarlinGrace

But the thing is that with gold it is very easy to smooth out machine marks with a small pounding tool, a wash rag and a good dose of experience. Like frigid butter.

You are correct but you still leave small microscopic marks that are different from period manufacturing. And Ricklymouse has it right that Made in China stamp is an ass kicker. lol

a reply to: MarlinGrace

to be blunt - you are delusional all the " crystal skulls " that have been tested have been demonstrated to be 19th or 20th century fakes

You can spot a genuine crystal skull but the rays of bullshyt eminating from it.

a reply to: Asynchrony

in no particular order :

1 - isotope ratio testing can indicate the geological origin of a piece of gold [ not a conclusive test - but an anomalous source would prompt more rigorous investigation on other lines ]

2 - any piece of gold that has been smelted / recast etc since 1945 can be easily identified as such

3 - context and technique - your hypothetical forger would have to know both how to craft a sarcophagus [ a seemingly obvious statement ] and create one that is plausible [ context ]

originally posted by: ignorant_ape
a reply to: MarlinGrace

to be blunt - you are delusional all the " crystal skulls " that have been tested have been demonstrated to be 19th or 20th century fakes

There always has to be that contentious ignorant ape in the crowd with the pompous attitude that can't just say hey I think you made a mistake. The skulls of which you speak do they include the one tested by Marcel Vogel the scientist with 27 years at IBM? The ones with the strange frequency and no marks visible under microscope just a perfect smooth surface.

originally posted by: ignorant_ape
a reply to: Asynchrony

in no particular order :

1 - isotope ratio testing can indicate the geological origin of a piece of gold [ not a conclusive test - but an anomalous source would prompt more rigorous investigation on other lines ]

2 - any piece of gold that has been smelted / recast etc since 1945 can be easily identified as such

3 - context and technique - your hypothetical forger would have to know both how to craft a sarcophagus [ a seemingly obvious statement ] and create one that is plausible [ context ]

#1 Could you explain that process, and how many samples [anomalous source] would you need for verification?
#2 How is that? Does this include what can be done in one's garage?
#3 The [purveyor] of the [obvious]

a reply to: MarlinGrace

This is what's so incredible about the crystal skulls, even with today's technology we can't create one. Yet they exist here on earth and no one knows how they were made or how they got here.

Thats just not true, thats just what they tell you in ufo documentaries.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Since the beginning of the atomic age there are traces of fallout in all metals melted since then.

They are not naturally accruing and a dead giveaway of a counterfeit.

Pottery also will also have these traces.

originally posted by: MarlinGrace

originally posted by: ignorant_ape

a reply to: MarlinGrace



to be blunt - you are delusional all the " crystal skulls " that have been tested have been demonstrated to be 19th or 20th century fakes

There always has to be that contentious ignorant ape in the crowd with the pompous attitude that can't just say hey I think you made a mistake. The skulls of which you speak do they include the one tested by Marcel Vogel the scientist with 27 years at IBM? The ones with the strange frequency and no marks visible under microscope just a perfect smooth surface.

You mean the guy who was already a believer? Can you show me any independent unbiased experts who examined it?