The Caucasus mountains have had, for millennia, a legendary association with gold. According to the myths recounted by Greek and Roman writers, the legendary hero Jason was sent there on an impossible quest to seek the Golden Fleece, a task so difficult that it was assumed he would never return.

But despite an association between gold and the mountains that became so strong it was woven into mythology, gold artefacts more or less disappeared from a large part of the region for a period of some seven centuries. Nathaniel Erb-Satullo, a Lecturer in Archaeological Science at Cranfield Forensic Institute, has been investigating why.

Nathaniel has written about his research and findings in the latest issue of Current World Archaeology magazine, which is also available in full on The Past website. On the latest episode of The PastCast, he spoke with regular presenter Calum Henderson about his research.

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