Michael Brauns studied mineralogy at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen from 1984 and received his diploma in 1991. This was followed by his doctorate, which he completed in 1995. After eight years of PostDoc in Giessen and Melbourne, Michael Brauns has been working at CEZA since 2003 and is responsible for the Material Analysis Laboratory. He is a member of the Executive Board for Science at CEZA gGmbH.
Academic and professional background
Since 2003
Research Assistant at Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum-Archäometrie gGmbH
2001-2003
Post-doctoral fellowship at the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen (DFG research program System Earth, Development of the seawater curve for osmium)
1998-2001
Post-doctoral fellow at the University of Melbourne “Os Isotopes and the Origin of the Tasmanian Dolerites
1995-1998
Post-doctoral fellow at the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen (DFG research project, development of the Re-Os method for sulphides and rocks)
1995
PhD, topic: “Isotope investigations on ores of the Siegerland”.
1991
Diploma in Mineralogy Topic: “Geochemical investigations on metabasites of the Damara Orogen, Namibia/South West Africa
1984-1991
Study of mineralogy at the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen
Publications
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Knies, J. et al.: Instant Weathering Response to Carbon-Cycle Perturbations During the End-Triassic Extinction
Jochen Knies, Tobias Kurz, Michael Brauns, Christoph Vogt, Arlinda F. Ciftja, Ana Banica, Jasmin Schönenberger, Kristian Drivenes, Trond Slagstad, Eun Jin Son, Morten Smelror, Sae Yun Kwon: Instant Weathering Response to Carbon-Cycle Perturbations During the End-Triassic Extinction, in: Terra Nova, 2026; 0:1–8
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Stepanov, I. et al.: First insights into the origin of iron in eastern Cilicia during the Iron Age, using osmium isotope and trace element analysis
Ivan Stepanov, Hüseyin Öztürk, Michael Brauns, Ernst Pernicka, Nurullah Hanilci, Ümit Güder (2025): First insights into the origin of iron in eastern Cilicia during the Iron Age, using osmium isotope and trace element analysis. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences 34 (6): 771-793
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Berger, D. et al.: Multiproxy analysis unwraps origin and fabrication biographies of Sardinian figurines: On the trail of metal-driven interaction and mixing practices in the early first millennium BCE
Daniel Berger, Valentina Matta, Nicola Ialongo, Heide W. Nørgaard, Gianfranca Salis, Michael Brauns, Mads K. Holst, Helle Vandkilde, 2025: Multiproxy analysis unwraps origin and fabrication biographies of Sardinian figurines: On the trail of metal-driven interaction and mixing practices in the early first millennium BCE. Published in PLOS One
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Eliyahu-Behar, A. et al.: Exploring the rhenium-osmium isotopic system and metal trace-elements analysis for iron provenance
Adi Eliyahu-Behar, Ivan Stepanov, Ernst Pernicka, Michael Brauns: Exploring the rhenium-osmium isotopic system and metal trace-elements analysis for iron provenance, Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 174, 2025
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Schwab, R. et al.: Das eiserne Trägergestell: Material und Herkunft
Schwab, R., Bauvais, S., Brauns, M., Disser, A., Dillmann, Ph., Gassmann, G., Leroy: Das eiserne Trägergestell: Material und Herkunft, in Biel, Jörg und Keefer, Erwin (Hrsg.): Hochdorf X: Das bronzene Sitzmöbel aus dem Fürstengrab von Eberdingen-Hochdorf (Kr. Ludwigsburg), Heidelberg: Propylaeum, 2023 (Forschungen und Berichte zur Archäologie in Baden-Württemberg, Band 20), S. 101–107.
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Stepanov, I. et al.: Nabataean iron picks for copper mining from Nahal ‘Amram, Israel; Chemical, isotopic and production technology analysis
Stepanov, I., Avner, U., Brauns, M., Lockhoff, N., Eliyahu-Behar, A. 2023: Nabataean iron picks for copper mining from Nahal ‘Amram, Israel; Chemical, isotopic and production technology analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 51:104166 (2023)
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Eliyahu-Behar A. et al.: “A land whose stones are iron…” – Iron ore sources in the Southern Levant
Eliyahu-Behar A, Ben Dor Y, Brauns M, Shulman OA, Avni Y, Killebrew AE, Tirosh O and Yahalom-Mack N (2023) “A land whose stones are iron...”—Iron ore sources in the Southern Levant. Front. Environ. Archaeol. 2:1221130
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Doménech-Carbó, A. et al.: Electrochemical dating of archaeological gold based on repetitive voltammetry monitoring of silver/copper in depth concentration gradients
Doménech-Carbó, A., Scholz, F., Brauns, M., Tiley-Nel, S., van Bennekom, J., van Bork, E., ... & Doménech-Carbó, M. T. (2023). Electrochemical dating of archaeological gold based on repetitive voltammetry monitoring of silver/copper in depth concentration gradients. Microchemical Journal, 190, 108661.
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Stepanov, I. et al.: Integrated approaches to the provenance of ancient iron artefacts from the Southern Levant
Stepanov, I., Brauns, M., Avner, U., Lockhoff, N., Eliyahu-Behar, A. 2023: Integrated approaches to the provenance of ancient iron artefacts from the Southern Levant, in S. Klein, C. Berthold, D. Berger, E. Pernicka (Hrsg.): Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2023: Jahrestagung an den Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Mannheim, 28. März bis 01. April 2023, METALLA Sonderheft 12, 133–135
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Schwab et al.: From Cyprus, or to Cyprus? A pilot study with osmium isotopy and siderophile trace elements to reconstruct the origin of corroded iron billets from the Kyrenia shipwreck
Schwab, Michael Brauns, 2022, From Cyprus, or to Cyprus? A pilot study with osmium isotopy and siderophile trace elements to reconstruct the origin of corroded iron billets from the Kyrenia shipwreck, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 10.
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Schwab, R. et al.: Metallanalysen an den Goldfunden aus der Gruft VII und der Königsgruft von Qaṭna
Schwab, R., Pernicka, E., 2021, Metallanalysen an den Goldfunden aus der Gruft VII und der Königsgruft von Qaṭna, in I. Puljiz, Gold von Königen und Göttern. Zur Bedeutung von Goldobjekten für die syrisch-nordlevantinischen Königtümer der Mittleren und Späten Bronzezeit ausgehend von den Funden aus den Grüften von Qaṭna, Qatna-Studien , Wiesbaden, 471-495.
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Cabral, A. R. et al.: Extreme fractionation of selenium isotopes and possible deep biospheric origin of platinum nuggets from Minas Gerais, Brazi
Cabral A. R. , König S., Eickmann B., Brauns M., Tupinambá M.l, Lehmann B. and Varas-Reus M. I., 2021, Extreme fractionation of selenium isotopes and possible deep biospheric origin of platinum nuggets from Minas Gerais, Brazi, in The Geological Society of America Geology, 2021, online, 5.
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Schwab, R. et al.: Das eiserne Trägergestell: Material und Herkunft
Schwab, R., Bauvais, S., Brauns, M., Dillmann, P., Gassmann, G., Leroy, S., 2021, Das eiserne Trägergestell: Material und Herkunft, in J. Biel, E. Keefer (Hrsg.), Hochdorf X. Das bronzene Sitzmöbel aus dem Fürstengrab von Eberdingen-Hochdorf (Kr. Ludwigsburg), Forschungen und Berichte zur Archäologie in Baden-Württemberg , Wiesbaden, 99-105.
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Doménech-Carbó, A. et al.: Electrochemical dating of archaeological gold based on refined peak current determinations and Tafel analysis
Doménech-Carbó, A., Scholz, F. Brauns, M., S. Tiley-Ney, S., Oliver, A., Aguilella, G., Montoya, N., Doménech-Carbó M.T. , 2020, Electrochemical dating of archaeological gold based on refined peak current determinations and Tafel analysis, Electrochimica Acta, -.
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Brauns, M. et al.: Osmium Isotope Analysis as an Innovative Tool for Provenancing Ancient Iron: A Systematic Approach
Brauns, M., Yahalom-Mack, N., Stepanov, I., Sauder, L., Keen J., Eliyahu-Behar A. , 2020, Osmium Isotope Analysis as an Innovative Tool for Provenancing Ancient Iron: A Systematic Approach, PLoS ONE, -.
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Brügmann, G. et al.: Silver isotope analysis of gold nuggets: An appraisal of instrumental isotope fractionation effects and potential for high-resolution tracing of placer gold
Brügmann, G., Brauns, M., Maas, R., 2019, Silver isotope analysis of gold nuggets: An appraisal of instrumental isotope fractionation effects and potential for high-resolution tracing of placer gold, Chemical Geology, 59–67.
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Voisey, Ch. R. et al.: Extreme Silver Isotope Variation in Orogenic Gold Systems Implies Multistaged Metal Remobilization during Ore Genesis
Voisey, Ch. R., Maas, R., Tomkins, A. G., Brauns, M., Brügmann, G. , 2019, Extreme Silver Isotope Variation in Orogenic Gold Systems Implies Multistaged Metal Remobilization during Ore Genesis, Economic Geology, 233–242.
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Pernicka, E. et al.: Naturwissenschaftliche Untersuchungen an Goldobjekten
Pernicka, E., Brauns, M., Friedrich, R., Lockhoff N, Schwab, R. , 2019, Naturwissenschaftliche Untersuchungen an Goldobjekten, in A. Wieczorek, W. Rosendahl Javagold - Pracht und Schönheit Indonesiens, Begleitband zur Ausstellung in den Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Oppenheim, 70-79.
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Braun, A. et al.: Erz für das Römische Eisenberg, zur Frage der Herkunft auf Basis von experimenteller Verhüttung und Naturwissenschaftlichen Analysen
Braun, A., Brauns, M., Hauck, Th., Himmelmann, U., 2019, Erz für das Römische Eisenberg, zur Frage der Herkunft auf Basis von experimenteller Verhüttung und Naturwissenschaftlichen Analysen, Mitteilungen des Historischen Vereins der Pfalz, 11-36.
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Mayer, B. et al.: The role of mantle-hybridization and crustal contamination in the petrogenesis of lithospheric mantle-derived alkaline rocks: constraints from Os and Hf isotopes
Mayer, B., Jung, S., Brauns, M., Münker, C. , 2018, The role of mantle-hybridization and crustal contamination in the petrogenesis of lithospheric mantle-derived alkaline rocks: constraints from Os and Hf isotopes, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 49.
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Brauns, M.: Woher kommt das Gold? Natürliche Lagerstätten und antiker Abbau
Brauns, M. , 2018, Woher kommt das Gold? Natürliche Lagerstätten und antiker Abbau, Archäologie in Deutschland, 22-23.
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Dillmann, P. et al.: Circulation of iron products in the North-Alpine area during the end of the First Iron Age (6th – 5th c. BC): a combination of chemical and isotopic approaches
Dillmann, P., ., Schwab, R., Bauvais, S., Brauns, M., Disser, A., Leroy, S., Gassmann, G., Fluzin, P. , 2017, Circulation of iron products in the North-Alpine area during the end of the First Iron Age (6th – 5th c. BC): a combination of chemical and isotopic approaches, Journal of Archaeological Sciences, 87, 108-124.
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Cabral, A. R. et al.: Platiniferous gold–tourmaline aggregates in the gold–palladium belt of Minas Gerais
Cabral, A. R., Tupinambá, M., Zeh, A., Lehmann, B., Wiedenbeck, M., Brauns M., Kwitko-Ribeiro, R., 2017, Platiniferous gold–tourmaline aggregates in the gold–palladium belt of Minas Gerais, Brazil: implications for regional boron metasomatism, Mineralogy and Petrology, 111, 807–819.
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Brauns, M. et al.: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von Osmiumisotopenverhältnisse zur Herkunftsbestimmung von archäologischen Eisenobjekten – eine Modellstudie an Verhüttungsresten aus Hüttenberg (Österreich)
Brauns, M., Degryse, P., Schifer, T., Pernicka, E. , 2017, Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von Osmiumisotopenverhältnisse zur Herkunftsbestimmung von archäologischen Eisenobjekten - eine Modellstudie an Verhüttungsresten aus Hüttenberg (Österreich). , in B. Cech (Hrsg.) Die Produktion von Ferrum Noricum am Hüttenberger Erzberg. Die Ergebnisse der interdisziplinären Forschungen auf der Fundstelle Semlach/Eisner in den Jahren 2006-2009, Austria Antiqua , 6, Wien, 151-165.
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Leusch, V. et al.: Precise and Accurate Analysis of Gold Alloys: Varna, the Earliest Gold of Mankind – A Case Study
Leusch, V., Brauns, M., Pernicka, E., 2016, Precise and Accurate Analysis of Gold Alloys: Varna, the Earliest Gold of Mankind - A Case Study, in L. Dussubieux, M. Golitko, B. Gratuze (eds.) Natural Science in Archaeology, Recent Advances in Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Archaeology, Berlin, Heidelberg, 95-113.
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Yakubovich, O. V. et al.: U–Th–He Dating of Native Gold: First Results, Problems, and Outlooks
Yakubovich, O. V., Shukolyukov, Yu. A., Kotov, A. B., Brauns, M., Samsonov, A. V., Komarov, A. N., Yakovleva, S. Z, Sal’nikova, E. B. & Gorokhovskii,B.M., 2014, U–Th–He Dating of Native Gold: First Results, Problems, and Outlooks, Petrology, 429-437.
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Kamenetsky, V.S. et al.: Noble metals potential of sulfi de-saturated melts from the subcontinental lithosphere
Kamenetsky, V.S., Maas, R., Fonseca, R.O.C., Ballhaus, C., Heuser, A., Brauns, M., Norman, M.D., Woodhead, J.D., Rodemann, T., Kuzmin, D.V., Bonatti, E., 2013, Noble metals potential of sulfi de-saturated melts from the subcontinental lithosphere, Geology, 575-578.
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Brauns, M. et al.: Provenance of Iron Age iron in Southern Germany: a new approach
Brauns, M., Schwab, R., Gassmann, G., Wieland G., Pernicka E., 2013, Provenance of Iron Age iron in Southern Germany: a new approach, Journal of Archaeological Science, 841–849.
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Cabral, A.R. et al.: Direct dating of gold by radiogenic helium: Testing the method on gold from Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Cabral, A.R., Eugster, O., Brauns, M., Lehmann, B., Rösel, D., Zack, Th., Robério de Abreu, F., Pernicka, E., Barth, M., 2013, Direct dating of gold by radiogenic helium: Testing the method on gold from Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Geology, 163-166.