Metalwork (Archaeology)

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During the later Bronze Age in Europe (c. 1500-800 BC), the archaeological visibility of the production and consumption of bronze increases substantially. Yet there remains a significant imbalance between the vast number of finished artefacts that survive and the evidence for where, how, and by whom they were produced. At the centre of these questions is the metal smith, who has been variously regarded in scholarship as nomadic, a reviled outsider, elite in status, a mediator of wealth, a shaman or a proto-scientist. In most cases, however, the social role of the smith is seen as central to the functioning of Bronze Age societies This paper provides a new cross-regional study that evaluates current theoretical paradigms in the light of empirical evidence. It does this through contextual analyses of metalworking traces, focussing on case studies primarily from Atlantic, Nordic, Urnfield and Balkan regions of Europe. Our work breaks down the production cycle into various practical steps, and the material evidence for each step is evaluated. This enables similarities and differences on the broader European scale to be identified and discussed. Through this, our aim is to better characterise the modes of participation in smithing and the identities of those involved, and consequently to improve our understanding of the material patterns related to smithing activities that occur archaeologically. These patterns range from discard or deposition at settlements, the construction of identity in mortuary practice, technological choices in alloy design and treatment, and the quality of finished metalwork objects. Concerning the question of the single smith, it is argued that the material evidence in many regions indicates that metal-working was more broadly embedded in society; this might be through cross-craft interaction, the location of metalworking activities, and the reuse of casting debris and moulds. We argue that crafting metal was a commonplace and socially visible activity, which was in many regions a venue for enhancing social integration and stability.

An Iron Age bronze axe was found in Motya (Sicily, Italy) in a prehistoric layer dating from the 10 th century BC underneath the 4 th century BC patrician residency known as "Casa dei mosaici". The axe belongs to the double-looped socketed type well known in central Mediterranean in the time span 1200-900 BC, and it is comparable with some coeval Sardinian specimens. The bronze has been characterised using the backscattering electron signal of a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy). The resulting composition of the metal alloy is Cu-Sn-As with an addition of Pb in some specific spots.

The first comprehensive assessment of non-ferrous metalworking craft in later British prehistory within a social and technological framework. The Social Context of Technology explores non-ferrous metalworking in Britain and Ireland during the Bronze and Iron Ages (c. 2500 BC to 1st century AD). Bronze-working dominates the evidence, though the crafting of other non-ferrous metals-including gold, silver, tin and lead-is also considered. Metalwork has long played a central role in accounts of European later prehistory. Metals were important for making functional tools, and elaborate decorated objects that were symbols of prestige. Metalwork could be treated in special or ritualised ways, by being accumulated in large hoards or placed in rivers or bogs. But who made these objects? Prehistoric smiths have been portrayed by some as prosaic technicians, and by others as mystical figures akin to magicians. They have been seen both as independent, travelling 'entrepreneurs', and as the dependents of elite patrons. Hitherto, these competing models have not been tested through a comprehensive assessment of the archaeological evidence for metalworking. This volume fills that gap, with analysis focused on metalworking tools and waste, such as crucibles, moulds, casting debris and smithing implements. The find contexts of these objects are examined, both to identify places where metalworking occurred, and to investigate the cultural practices behind the deposition of metalworking debris. The key questions are: what was the social context of this craft, and what was its ideological significance? How did this vary regionally and change over time? As well as elucidating a key aspect of later prehistoric life in Britain and Ireland, this important examination by leading scholars contributes to broader debates on material culture and the social role of craft.

Surface surveys and a subsequent excavation west of the village of Suchomasty (Beroun district, Central Bohemia) documented a large medieval settlement occupied roughly from the late 9th – early 10th up until the late 15th century. A part of the surveyed area yielded numerous lumps and casting-spills of non-ferrous metals as well as several fragments of metallic artefacts, the most curious of which is a part of a small bell. These finds attest to the intense working of non-ferrous metals. Based on the results of an elemental composition analysis of selected finds as well as on the broader historical and settlement context, we date these activities hypothetically to the 12th or 13th century. The objective of the present study is to set the Suchomasty
settlement into a broader context of regional settlement history; it will turn out to be a highly interesting case of the complex transformation of the rural settlement structure and functions during the Middle Ages.

Arheologija, arheobotanika, kulinarika in obrt od prazgodovine do odkritja Novega sveta v povezavi s kulturnim turizmom avstrijske Štajerske in severovzhodne Slovenije. / Archäologie, Archäobotanik, Küche und Kunsthandwerk von der Vorgeschichte bis zur Entdeckung der Neuen Welt im Zusammenhang mit dem Kulturtourismus in der Steiermark und im Nordosten Sloweniens.

Arheološka dediščina je neskončen vir znanja in navdiha. To velja tudi za arheološke sledove razvoja kmetijstva in kulturne krajine med kameno dobo in koncem srednjega veka, ki so bili pod drobnogledom večletnega čezmejnega projekta PalaeoDiversiStyria – paleokrajina Štajerske in njena biodiverziteta od prazgodovine do odkritja Novega sveta. Ob kratki predstavitvi projekta sledi predstavitev nekaterih pomembnejših najdišč projektnega območja, ki časovno segajo od mlajše kamene oz. bakrene dobe do srednjega veka in v veliki meri vključujejo tudi rezultate analiz rastlinskih in/ali živalskih ostankov. A sledi še pomembnejši in zanimivejši (ter okusnejši) del pričujoče publikacije. V poglavju "Živa arheologija" so najprej predstavljene številne rastline, ki so bile na projektnem območju odkrite pri arheoloških izkopavanjih, nato pa so jih prepoznali paleobotaniki. Pod naslovom "Okusna in uporabna arheologija" pa se skriva tisto, kar je pri tem projektu pomembna novost. Arheološko dediščino smo poskušali prenesti v sedanjost in prihodnost ter jo narediti uporabno, otipljivo, dišečo in okusno. Čakajo vas torej jedi, pijače in drugi izdelki, ki jih je navdihnila arheologija. Ker knjiga prinaša tudi recepte, se na primer lahko v pripravi jedi preizkusite sami ali pa se odpravite do katerega izmed ponudnikov v Avstriji ali Sloveniji in se pustite razvajati z okusi preteklosti. Lahko pa si pri njih priskrbite sestavine in končne izdelke, ki imajo svoj izvor v arheoloških dognanjih in so zato označeni z znakom blagovne znamke HERITERRA.
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Das archäologische Erbe ist eine unendliche Quelle des Wissens und der Inspiration. Dies gilt auch für archäologische Spuren der Entwicklung der Landwirtschaft und der Kulturlandschaft zwischen der Steinzeit und dem Ende des Mittelalters, die im Rahmen des mehrjährigen grenzüberschreitenden Projekts PalaeoDiversiStyria – Paläolandschaft der Steiermark und ihre Biodiversität von der Urgeschichte bis zu Entdeckung der Neuen Welt. Einige der Ergebnisse dieses Projekts werden in der vorliegenden Publikation zusammengefasst. Nach einer kurzen Vorstellung des Projekts werden einige der wichtigsten Fundorte des Projektgebietes, die sich über den Zeitraum von der jüngeren Steinzeit bzw. von der Kupferzeit bis zum Mittelalter erstrecken, und zu einem großen Teil auch die Ergebnisse von Analysen der Pflanzen- und/oder Tierreste vorgestellt. Aber der wichtigere und interessantere (und schmackhaftere) Teil dieser Veröffentlichung ist wohl folgender: Im Kapitel „Lebende Archäologie“ werden zunächst die zahlreichen Pflanzen vorgestellt, die bei archäologischen Ausgrabungen im Projektgebiet entdeckt und anschließend von Paläobotanikern/innen identifiziert wurden. Unter dem Titel „Geschmackvolle und nützliche Archäologie“ versteckt sich eine wichtige Innovation in unserem Projekt. Wir haben versucht, das archäologische Erbe auf die Gegenwart und die Zukunft zu übertragen und es nützlich, greifbar, duftend und lecker zu machen. Hier kann man von der Archäologie inspirierte Speisen, Getränke und andere Produkte finden. Da das Buch auch Rezepte enthält, können Sie selbst versuchen, die Gerichte zuzubereiten – oder Sie können zu einem unserer Anbieter in Österreich oder Slowenien gehen und dort die Aromen und Geschmackserlebnisse der Vergangenheit genießen. Sie erhalten dort auch Zutaten und Fertigprodukte, die ihren Ursprung in archäologischen Erkenntnissen haben und mit der Marke HERITERRA gekennzeichnet sind.

The excavations of the Royal tombs of Salamis brought to light a significant number of objects made of copper alloys. This paper presents the results of the pXRF chemical analysis of more than 550 objects. The analyzed assemblage consists of various types of tools, weapons, ornaments, table-ware and utensils, as well as a large number of accessories from the equipment of horses and chariots. The main aim of this study was the determination of the alloy type that was used for the production of these different types of objects. The results show a prudent use of tin for the production of certain categories of objects: a large number of them were found to be made of unalloyed copper. The analysis also provides some interesting information relating to the more elaborate artifacts such as the cauldron with the griffin protomes. The results are  compared and contrasted to those from the chemical analysis of copper alloy artifacts from earlier periods and more importantly those excavated in the necropoleis of Palaepaphos Skales and Plakes dating to the Early Iron Age.