Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

ANALYSES - METALS - Géza SZABÓ: Evaluation of late Bronze Age Carpathian tinbronzes based on the alloying content

Géza SZABÓ EVALUATION OF LATE BRONZE AGE CARPATHIAN TINBRONZES BASED ON THE ALLOYING CONTENT Abstract: Comparing the data ever obtained on domestic bronze articles within theframwork of archaeological studies with those observed for finds of Regöly-Veravár selected as standard for the first complete domestic archaeometallurgical studies, it is striking, that tin contents obtained at the turn of the century with classical analytical processes are in agreement with the newest results. On the contrary, some data sets obtained recently show considerable differences compared to them. The question arises whether the different measurement results are due in fact to different tin content, or the reason for the differences should be accounted for the method of measurements or the measuring instrument itself. We regard raising the problem unavoidable, because: - Relying on the aloying content gives an opportunity to distinguish the various groups of domestic articles of Late Bronze Age according to place of manufacturing and ways of use exclusively by having authentic sets of data. - The precise data are the primary conditon to comparing our results to foreign ones. It is also the prerequisite for studying the international relations of the metallurgy of Late Bronze Age beyond the traditional typological methods. Introduction Complex and specially detailed analysis of the object of Regöly- Veravár treasure (KŐSZEGI: 1993, SZABÓ: 1993) find containing widely varying articles both from the aspect of manufacturing and use gives opportunity to control the research results accumulated so far. and due to the use of most up-to-date methods gives basis to outline the technical and technological knowledge of metal processing in the Late Bronze Age.(SZABÓ: 1997) Most part of the studied bronze objects consisted of worked, annealed ones. Among the objects worked again after the annealing knife (SZABÓ: 1993 No. 10.17). needle (SZABÓ: 1993 No. 77). fragment of tip (SZABÓ: 1993 No. 79). fibula fragment (SZABÓ: 1993 No. 88) and bronze pins can be found alike. Particularly the small-size twinned grains indicate that the bronze material of the articles was extended to the intended size often after several annealing and the relatively soft material produced by annealing and fast cooling down, was hammered on its tip or edge only, up to a fairly hard state. Applying this process with an annealing and an end compacting, in spite of the low tin content a material of ideal structure was obtained consisting practically of homogeneous alpha crystals, showing excellent hardness without being brittle.(SCOTT: 1991 25, SZABÓ: 1996, SZABÓ: 1993 No. 10.17.87.) It can be observed particularly on the cuts of bronze pins, that the samples taken from various places show different pictures. Particularly on the articles made of bronze pin it can be observed that the samples taken from different places show various pictures. E.g. at the side of a needle (SZABÓ: 1993 No. 80) along characteristic straight lines and split twinned crystallites could be observed indicating, that after the annealing it was not processed any more. The elongated crystallites on the flattened head, however, clearly show processing after the annealing of this part. It is a frequent collateral effect with the annealed objects, that a characteristic tin-rich segregation is formed along the crystallite boundaries covering in a net-like manner nearly the whole surface (MEEKS: 1986 137; Figure 1.1). 159