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Chemical analyses of pre and proto-historic gold artifacts, using EDXRF and PIXE, are presented. Fragments of gold leaves from chalcolithic settlements, two gold rivets from a Bronze Age knife and a gold Iron Age torc are among artifacts analysed at the Nuclear and Technologic Institute (Sacavém) during different archaeometric (archaeometallurgy) research programs. If the chemical compositions of the first ones point out to the use of native gold and the rivets are made of electrum, also native, with a composition very similar to that one from an artifact from El Argar Bronze Age found at Almeria (South- eastern Spain), the analysed torc, found near Chaves, presents a composition - 72-73% Au; 26-27% Ag; 1-2% Cu - that falls within the main group of compositions of proto-historic gold jewellery artifacts found in Northwestern Iberian Peninsula. Since the different components of the torc - two decorated terminals and a hoop - were not assembled, it was possible to investigate the existence of remains of the welding in the bottom face of the terminals. PIXE analysis performed along a diameter of these bottom faces, in areas of about 0,2 mm2, show a progressive increase of copper (up to 18%) and silver close to the hole where each terminal was joined to the hoop. This is a clear indication that a brazing procedure was used to assemble the components of the torc. The filler used was an alloy consisting of 60% Au, 22% Ag and 18% Cu.
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