Beyond the Surface : Investigating the internal and external properties of silver-coated axes from eastern Bohemia
| Autoři | |
|---|---|
| Rok publikování | 2024 |
| Druh | Článek ve sborníku |
| Konference | Der soziale Wert prähistorischer Beile - neue archäologische und archäometrische Ansätze |
| Fakulta / Pracoviště MU | |
| Citace | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.11588/propylaeum.1474.c21032 |
| Klíčová slova | Early Bronze Age; Únětice culture; Hoards; Axes; Silver coating |
| Popis | A multi-perspective study was conducted on the entire preserved assemblage of Únětice metal axes from eastern Bohemia, including 111 axes and 2 axe-shaped hammers. With 57 specimens, the hoard of Kukleny, Hradec Králové district, still remains the largest assemblage of axes from this period in Bohemia. Its location in eastern Bohemia, often seen as a periphery of the Bohemian Únětice settlement, and the unique surface treatment of the axes with silver, made it necessary to investigate all other artefacts of the region, most of them coming from hoards and single finds, more rarely from graves and even stratified settlement contexts. Different methods were applied and aimed to answer questions about the manufacture, use, and symbolic value of such artefacts. Their manufacture process was examined in terms of the choice of material, casting process, traces of manufacture and use, and silver coating. A preference for bronze over copper axes was observed, mainly in hoards. From the study of internal structure, we can propose that some of these axes were cast in closed moulds standing upright with the edge pointing down, which is indicated by casting defects present in the butt parts. Where traces of usage could be determined, it could be confirmed that axes were used mainly for woodworking. These findings seem to be in direct opposition to coating with silver, which was present on the majority of studied specimens. However, a specific coating method was tested, which provided a silvery shining surface using a fairly simple process and a minimal amount of silver chloride, or socalled horn silver. This way, the layer could have been easily repaired and did not have to exclude the practical use of axes. |
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