Ilon Gábor szerk.: Pápai Múzeumi Értesítő 6. (Pápa, 1996)
Bronzkor a Nyugat-Dunántúlon - P. I. Maclaen - J. G. Mcdonell: New archaeo metrical investigations of the bronzes in the Carpathian Basin. Újabb természettudományos adatok a Kárpát-medencei bronzok összetételéről
ACTA MU SEIPAPENSIS PÁPAI MÚZEUMI ÉRTESÍTŐ 6 - 1996 P.I. MACLAEN & JG. MCDONNELL NEW ARCHAEOMETRICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BRONZES IN THE CARPATHIAN BASIN Introduction This paper presents a short overview of an ongoing research programme conducted within the Department of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bradford. The area of study concerns the achacomctallurgical investigation of high antimony copper-alloys in prehistory, notably those commonly referred to as ,Antimony bronze" and which are taken here to denote alloys primarily consisting of copper-antimony (Cu-Sb) and copper-antimony-tin (Cu-Sb-Sn). For the purposes of the present study, antimony bronze material containing 1% or more Sb are the subject of analysis. A survey of the available literature (for example Tylccote 1987, Charles 1980) suggests that the archaeological florescence of antimony bronze occurs during the Late Bronze Age / Early Iron Age periods of not only the Carpathian Basin but also Western Europe and the Near East. Antimony bronze has received relatively little attention in comparison to other copper-based alloy systems of early metallurgy such as the arsenical (As-Cu) and tin bronze (Cu-Sn) systems. One of the main aims if the current work is to draw attention to this previously little studied but important area of archacometallurgy . Within the Carpathian Basin, Hungary has often been identified as the most prominent source of antimony bronze with publications such as those of K.F. von Miske (1908, 1929) drawing attention to major metalworking centres of the LBA / EIA such as Velem St. Vid located in the West of Modern Hungary. A selection of material from a number of sites including Velem and others of the LBA/EIA period (including Romand, Domahida, Nagydem) arc the subject of study. Sampling procedures and methods of analysis With the kind permission of museum institutions in Budapest, Szombathely, Veszprém and Pápa sixty (60) samples were taken from a selection of ingots, weaponry (axes, swords, arrowheads), decorative items (buttons, pins, fibulae) and other objects (sickles, tools, plate pieces). The samples were taken in consideration of subsequent metallographic and chemical analysis and were typically up to a maximum of 100 mg in size. Where available, samples were taken as wedges at possible working edges or at convenient locations along the length of the artefact (Figure 1.). The sampling procedure involved the use of two principal instruments: a jewellers piercing saw and on a more novel basis, the use of a low torque rotary power tool using silcon carbide cutting discs. The power tool possesses number of advantages for this work, namely the rotational speed of the curing edge (up to 30,000 rpm) and low torque allow for a high degree of control when taking samples. Sampling is approximately five times faster than the more conventional use of a piercing saw and is ideally suited for obtaining samples comprising of thin (sheet) metal and delicate artefacts. As expected the use of die power tool generates a quantity of heat at the point of sampling, however experiments at Bradford have shown that the temperatures attained from this method do not alter the rnicrostructure of the artefact or that of its associated sample. Perhaps the only drawback with this method is the slightly larger signature (i.e. area of sample) caused as a result of the thickness of the cutting disc in comparison to the piercing saw; however, subsequent infilling and restoration of the artefact by conservation personnell would negate this problem. Once the sample has been acquired and introduced into the-laboratory it must first be mounted into a small (25 mm diameter) plug for easier handling. In the case of antimony bronze samples,
