The purpose of this article is to present the use of iron in ancient Egypt up to the beginning of the Late Period. The presentation of the development of metallurgy of this metal will be possible through the analysis of the preserved objects and their fragments, which show the subsequent stages of learning about the new raw material and the gradual adoption of various methods of iron processing. Due to the fact that no traces of iron processing workshops have survived from the times preceding the Late Period, the analysis of the preserved iron artifacts will enable the reconstruction of subsequent stages of the development of this metal metallurgy. Equally important as objects are the sources from which the Egyptians could obtain iron and the routes by which they imported it, because their presence is one of the basic requirements for metallurgy to develop and spread. I in studying the development of iron treatment the texts in which there is terminology describing iron will be also helpful. Furthermore, by reviewing the contexts of its use, it will be possible to enrich knowledge about the metallurgy of this metal. The analysis of the above points will allow to present a complete picture of iron metallurgy in Egypt.
The aim of the article is to present a breakthrough time for iron metallurgy, which was the beginning of the Late Period, in particular the reign of the XXVI Dynasty. Presentation of this issue will be possible through the analysis of preserved artifacts from this period It shows the variety of used forms of objects and the methods of iron processing. The key to this article is the presence of iron processing workshops in the Greco-Egyptian centers, which are the oldest – discovered evidence of the processing of this metal in Egypt. The analysis of the workshops themselves, the tools used there and the remnants of metalworking preserved will be helpful in studying the development of iron metallurgy in the discussed period. An important part of the work is also an attempt to answer the questions: where did the impulse that introduced workshop iron processing in Egypt come from, and whether the Nubians or maybe foreigners, e.g. the Greeks appearing at the end of the Third Intermediate Period and at the beginning of the Late Period in the country on the Nile? The analysis of the above points will emphasize the groundbreaking nature of the discussed topic.
This article presents a typological and physical metallurgy analysis of copper artifacts found in child grave (no 7) at the Lublin-Volhynian culture cemetery in Książnice (Lesser Poland). The burial, dating to approx. 4050–3940 BC, contains a rich set of copper jewellery: a massive earring, small earring, bracelet - made of copper wire, and two beads made of a rolled piece of metal sheet. As part of metallographic analysis of metal finds from grave 7, site 2 in Książnice, quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted, regarding chemistry and microstructure of all the five artifacts. In the artifacts tested, there were identified the elements significant from the perspective of raw material origin and smelting technology: arsenic, antimony, silver, tin, zinc, lead, bismuth, cobalt, nickel and iron. The highest total content of impurities was noted for the bracelet. Against the background of other elements, the arsenic content stands out here and it is 2.1%, and lead 0.26%. For the remaining artifacts, the arsenic content was 0÷0,24%, and lead 0÷0,039%. Antimony (0.098%) and zinc (0.15%) was only recorded for the one of the bead. Also, the highest content of silver (0.05%) was established in this case. In the remaining ornaments, the silver content was below 0.02%. Based on the X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy results, chemical profiles were established for the individual, and they were ascribed to raw material groups according to R. Krause: 1) pure copper, 2) arsenic copper and 3) antimony copper (Krause 2003: 90–91, Abb. 40–41). The presented inventory of copper artifacts from grave 7, having many analogies in the Carpathian Basin and the areas to the north and east of the Carpathians, confirms the thesis about wide, trans-Carpathian contacts of the group which was using the necropolis in Książnice at the turn of 5th and 4th millennium BC.
PL
Niniejszy artykuł prezentuje typologiczną i metaloznawczą analizę zabytków miedzianych znalezionych w grobie dziecięcym (nr 7) na cmentarzysku kultury lubelsko-wołyńskiej w Książnicach (Małopolska). Pochówek, datowany na przełom V i IV tysiąclecia BC (4050–3940 BC), zawierał bogaty zestaw biżuterii miedzianej, na który składały się: duża, masywna zausznica, mała zausznica i bransoleta – wykonane z drutu, oraz dwa paciorki ze zwiniętej blachy miedzianej. W ramach badań metaloznawczych, przeprowadzono ilościowe i jakościowe, analizy chemiczne i mikrostrukturalne wszystkich pięciu zabytków. W badanych zabytkach zidentyfikowano pierwiastki, istotne z punktu widzenia pochodzenia surowca i technologii wytopu. Należą do nich: arsen, antymon, srebro, cyna, cynk, ołów, bizmut, kobalt, nikiel i żelazo. Sumarycznie największą zawartość zanieczyszczeń zarejestrowano dla bransolety. Na tle innych pierwiastków wyróżnia się tu arsen, który wynosi 2,1% i ołów 0,26%. Dla pozostałych zabytków stężenie arsenu wynosiło 0÷0,24%, a ołowiu 0÷0,039%. Antymon (0,098%) i cynę (0,15%) zarejestrowano jedynie dla jednego z paciorków. W tym przypadku wykazano również najwyższą zawartość srebra (0,05%). W pozostałych ozdobach stężenie srebra wynosiło poniżej 0,02%. Na podstawie wyników analizy spektroskopii fluorescencji rentgenowskiej dokonano ustalenia profili chemicznych analizowanych zabytków oraz zaklasyfikowano je do grup surowcowych wg R. Krause: (1) miedzi czystej, (2) miedzi arsenowej oraz (3) miedzi antymonowej (Krause 2003: 90 – 91, ryc. 40 – 41). Zaprezentowany inwentarz zabytków miedzianych z grobu 7, mający liczne analogie w Kotlinie Karpackiej i na terenach położonych na północ i wschód od łuku Karpat, potwierdza tezę o szerokich transkarpackich kontaktach grupy użytkującej nekropolę w Książnicach na przełomie V i IV tysiąclecia BC.
The aim of the article is to present an unusual raw material, which is the meteorite iron and its specific status in the culture of ancient Egypt. The presentation of this extraordinary material, highlighting the features allowing to recognize it, the interpretation of the artifacts made of it (taking into account the physicochemical analyzes), and the development of the results of experimental works recreating the methods of its processing allow us to obtain the necessary information about the delineation of meteorite iron metallurgy in ancient Egypt up to the beginning of the Late Period. An important source for achieving the article’s goal are also texts. Text analysis highlights the ambiguity of the terminology used to describe meteorite iron. By reviewing the contexts of its use, they allow us to enrich knowledge about its metallurgy and help to characterize the status of this metal in the consciousness of the Egyptians.
The presented fragment of a metal horse bit was accidentally discovered during agricultural works carried out in Browina, Toruń district. Currently, it is impossible to associate this find with a specific archaeological site, but it can be assumed that this object (as a complete one) appeared in the early Iron Age in the local environment of the Lusatian culture, in the so-called ‘Grzywna’ microregion, one of a dozen or so, which together form the settlement space of the ‘Chełmża and Kamionki trough’ mesoregion. The discovered artefact should be associated with type of the so-called common horse bit, singly bent, originally consisting of two almost identical elements (slightly arched shafts) intertwined with smaller holes (loop links). The aforementioned horse bit rings were connected with the rest of the bridle. Only two similar metal horse bits are known from the territory of Poland. One, completely preserved, comes from the defensive settlement of the Lusatian culture in Gzin, Bydgoszcz district, while the second one, similarly incomplete as the specimen from Browina, was accidentally found in Gródek, Hrubieszów district. All three, due to the contexts of their occurrence and the available analogies, are associated with the steppe or forest steppe production of eastern European environments. The analysis of the chemical composition shows that the Browina horse bit is made of brass, i.e. copper alloy with a clear, intentional admixture of zinc. In the local cultural and settlement environment, a similar material was found in the zoomorphic pommel of a Scythian dagger (acinaces) from Płonczynek, Lipno district. The formal resemblance of the latter to a specimen found long ago in Bodzanowo, Radziejów district is clear. Based on the assessment of the zoomorphic style of these two items, their west Siberian origin is assumed. However, bearing in mind the noticeable presence in the Bydgoszcz-Toruń bend of the Vistula River (in Kuyavia and Chełmno-Dobrzyń Lake District) of various artefacts of similar, eastern provenance (bronze and iron militaria and jewellery, but also pottery), some of these product categories can be currently considered as products which could have been produced locally (apart from pottery, also some groups of bronze objects, e.g. trilobe arrowheads). Therefore, it is justified to further explore the problem of assessing the scope of adaptation of cultural patterns, alien to the ‘Lusatian’ environment in the early Iron Age. To date, as a rule, there has been a tendency to interpret these finds as traces of military actions of Scythian groups penetrating the area of southern Poland and reaching the aforementioned bend of the Vistula River. The complexity of the problem is therefore large, and it undoubtedly requires further archaeological and archaeometallurgical research. Nevertheless, it may be much better exposed in the near future, because after publication of the expected results of the prospection conducted within the so-called Chotyniec agglomeration, it will be possible to gain access to new source data, showing the scope and direction of the transmission of eastern cultural patterns.
We współczesnych badaniach zabytków archeologicznych metody fizykochemiczne wykorzystywane są w celu udzielenia odpowiedzi na pytania wykraczające poza obszar zainteresowań konwencjonalnego warsztatu historyka. Dotyczy to badań na pograniczu dziedzin, w tym badań materiałowych pozwalających na określenie składu pierwiastkowego i izotopowego zabytków. Wyniki takich analiz pozwalają na przybliżenie zagadnień dotyczących dystrybucji surowców oraz technologii wykonania zabytków. W pracy przedstawiono propozycję metodyki mikro-analizy SEM-EDS i LA-ICP-QMS uwzględniając jej ograniczenia wynikające ze specyfikacji technik, jak i stanu zachowania zabytków będącego efektem procesów korozyjnych i złej konserwacji. Przedstawiono wstępne wyniki badań technologicznych i proweniencji wczesnośredniowiecznych zabytków wykonanych ze stopów srebra uwzględniając podział na grupy typologiczne to jest monety, placki srebrne i ozdoby. W sumie analizie poddano 200 obiektów wskazując jako główne źródło surowca przetop z dirhamów. Wyniki badań pozwoliły na materiałowy opis zjawiska istnienia rdzeni w denarach krzyżowych wyróżniając dwa rodzaje rdzeni: na bazie miedzi i mosiądzu. W przypadku ozdób umożliwiły ich rozróżnienie technologiczne wskazując na użycie lutowania opartego o związki miedzi ale też cyny i ołowiu, co ma swoje analogie w materiale złotniczym z terenu Czech. Receptury bazujące na oznaczonym składzie są opisane w źródłach antycznych. Placki srebrne natomiast można podzielić na trzy grupy ekstrakcyjne związane ze stopniem oczyszczenia kruszcu. Wstępne wyniki wskazują, iż obiekty te zostały wykonane z kruszczu azjatyckiego przy udziale ołowiu rodzimego, być może jako dodatku w procesie kupelacji.
EN
Modern archaeological research uses physico-chemical methods to answer questions beyond the scope of the conventional historian’s workshop. This applies to research on the borderline of fields, including material research into the elemental and isotopic composition of artefacts. The results of such analyses make it possible to address issues relating to the distribution of raw materials and the technology of artefact production. The paper discusses the SEM-EDS and LA-ICP-QMS micro-analysis methodology, addressing the limitations that result from the specification of techniques and the state of preservation of archaeological artefacts due to corrosion processes and conservation treatment. We present the preliminary results of technological research and provenance study of early medieval objects made of silver alloys, considered by typological group, i.e. coins, cake, and jewellery. Two hundred objects were analysed, revealing clear evidence for the use of remelted dirhams as the main source of raw material. The results of the research allowed for a material description of the phenomenon of the existence of cores in cross denarii, distinguishing two types of cores: based on copper and brass. In the case of jewellery, the research provided evidence for technological distinction, indicating the use of copper-based solders, as well as tin- and lead-based dolders, which have analogies in goldsmithing material from the Czech Republic. Recipes based on the marked composition are described in ancient sources. Silver cakes, on the other hand, can be divided into three extraction groups related to the degree of purification of the raw material. The preliminary results indicate that these objects were made of Asian dirhams and native lead, perhaps as an additive in the cupellation process.
In the spring of 2016, an archaeology student at the University of Wrocław together with a resident of Gościno commune found a blue-green blade that fitted into the palm of his hand. It was found in a ploughed soil while walking along a forest path in Dargocice (Gościno commune, Kołobrzeg district, West Pomeranian Voivodeship). The artefact was submitted to the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wrocław for further analysis.
PL
Wiosną 2016 roku student archeologii Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego wraz z mieszkańcem gminy Gościno znalazł niebiesko-zielone ostrze, które dobrze pasowało do dłoni. Znaleziono je w wyoranej ziemi podczas spaceru leśną ścieżką w Dargocicach (gm. Gościno, pow. kołobrzeski, woj. zachodniopomorskie). Zabytek został przekazany do analizy w laboratorium Instytutu Archeologii Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego.
Two early medieval weapons discovered within the relics of the Ledniczka bridge on Lake Lednica were subjected to non-invasive archaeometallurgical investigations. The conducted analyses allowed to determine the methods of their manufacture, as well as the characteristics of materials that were used in their making. Each specimen was a composite product forged from iron alloys of varying properties. Both the sword and the hammer axe were richly decorated with ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The research allowed in most parts to recreate the original appearance of these ornaments.
PL
Dwa egzemplarze wczesnośredniowiecznej broni odnalezione w reliktach mostu wiodącego na wyspę Ledniczkę na jeziorze Lednica zostały poddane nieinwazyjnym badaniom archeometalurgicznym. Przeprowadzone analizy pozwoliły na ustalenie metod fabrykacji oręża oraz określenie materiałów, które wykorzystano do jego wykonania. Oba przedmioty są wyrobami kompozytowymi odkutymi ze stopów żelaza o różnych właściwościach. Zarówno miecz, jak i czekan były bogato zdobione metalami żelaznymi i nieżelaznymi. Wykonane badania pozwoliły w większości na odtworzenie pierwotnego wyglądu tych ornamentów.
W artykule przedstawiono wyniki studiów archeometalurgicznych dotyczących płaskiej siekiery, odkrytej przypadkowo w 2016 r. na gruntach miejscowości Łady, gm. Iłów, pow. sochaczewski. Zabytek jest pierwszym okazem eneolitycznej siekiery miedzianej z Mazowsza. Przeprowadzono badanie składu surowcowego siekiery (EDXRF) i analizę jej powierzchni (OM). Określono przynależność typologiczną zabytku i poddano pod dyskusję kulturowo- społeczny kontekst siekier płaskich na obszarze ziem polskich. Ustalono, że siekiera została odlana z miedzi arsenowej i nie była najprawdopodobniej użytkowana w pradziejach. Kontekst odkrycia oraz stan zachowania zabytku wskazują, że został on zdeponowany w środowisku mokrym. Na podstawie analizy typologicznej siekierę z Ład zaklasyfikowano do typu Bytyń w wariancie A. Powinno się zatem traktować ją jako pojedynczy skarb akwatyczny, zdeponowany przez wspólnoty kultury pucharów lejkowatych z Kotliny Warszawskiej między 3600/3500–3200/3100 cal.BC.
EN
This work presents the archaeometallurgical studies performed on the flat axe discovered accidentally in 2016 near the village Łady, Iłów commune, Sochaczew district. The axe is the first find of such an object reported from Mazovia. The axe is described in terms of raw-material profile (EDXRF) as well as its macrostucture (OM). This has been juxtaposed throughout this work with the results of typological and contextual (sociocultural) analysis of the Bytyń axes, which have also been found on Polish territory. It has been established that the axe was cast from arsenical copper. It is likely that the find from Łady did not serve as a functional tool in the past. The discovery context and the state of preservation indicate that the axe was deposited in an aquatic environment. By means of a typological analysis the find from Łady was classified as a flat axe of Bytyń A type and therefore it should be considered as the single hoard deposited by the Funnel Beaker culture communities from the Warsaw Basin between 3600/3500 and 3200/3100 cal. BC.
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