Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 30/1. (2010)
Articles
The Bronze Hoard from Sämbria} (Mure} County) 49 4. Socketed axe (PL 2/4), similar from typological point of view with artefact nr. 3., with an intact attachment loop, with a straight and slightly fragmentary rim, with the two margins stretching almost parallel to the cutting edge, which is slightly bent and rounded at the corners. The rim is strengthened by a slim rib, but which is fragmentary and uneven preserved (PL 5/4a, c). Under this another solid horizontal rib appears which stretches on the whole circumference of the axe, followed by other three horizontal ribs. On both sides of the axe, starting from the corners of the cutting edge and ending right under the last horizontal rib, an arch decoration in relief was realized. It is very carefully manufactured, every casting mark being removed from the rim till the cutting edge, probably with a small hammer, excepting the part under the attachment loop. The same kind of intervention is visible on the opposite margin of the attachment loop, between the two arches, where the casting ridges were hammered for removal. The rim of the socket is poorly preserved; the slim strengthening rib is missing almost totally. On the rim modern interventions are also visible, and on one side with prehistoric ‘incision’ marks. The blunt cutting edge has wear and tear marks, with wear down patina, and blunt corners (PL 5/4b, d). The patina has a dark green colour, being preserved evenly on the whole surface of the artefact. Dimensions: L: 7.9 cm; 1: 2.8 cm; ledge: 3.6 cm; w: 133 g. Seckler National Museum, inv. nr. 16554. 5. Socketed axe (PL 3/5), with the rim of the socket having a concave form, and slightly expanding outwards. The intact attachment loop starts from the rim, the lower side of it gradually widens until it reaches the width of the inner margin. Parallel with the rim of the axe, three ribs are present on the whole circumference of the artefact, uniting on the outer margin, and continuing afterwards as a single rib until the edge of the concave rim. It has a slim body, with the inner margin slightly pulled inwards, with a trapeze formed blade, with a slightly curved cutting edge with rounded corners. It is a very carefully manufactured axe, almost perfect from metallurgical point of view, with all the casting ridges removed. It has few wear and tear marks, with light damage traces on the cutting edge (PL 5/5a-b). The patina of the axe was removed during conservation. Dimensions: L: 12.5 cm; 1: 2.5 cm; 1 : 4.8 cm; w: 185 g. Mure? County Museum, inv. nr. 2746. 6. Socketed hammer (PL 3/6), with straight and thickened rim, with the two margins stretching almost parallel to the hitting surface, which is slightly widened, having a circular and concave form. It has an oval cross-section. Right under the rim, on both sides, six vertically stretched, slim ribs are present, which gradually fade after the middle of the hammer, right in the area where the widening of the hitting surface begins. The casting ridges were not removed, the mould marks being visible on both margins and on the rim as well. Due to a faulty casting a wrong placement of the moulds is noticeable, which gives the artefact an asymmetric outline. It has intensive prehistoric wear and tear marks on the hitting surface (PL 5/6d), but on the two sides as well (PL 5/6b-c). This exaggerated usage is proved also by the forcing of the margins of the hitting surface, which deformed slightly, moving opposite to the direction of the hits (PL 5/6b-c). Right under the area of the hitting surface tiny ‘folds’ can be observed, resulted from the overcharge of the hammer. Hie marks of modern interventions are also present, most probably with a file, which resulted the removal of the patina from the rim and from the hitting surface (PL 5/6a, d). The patina has a dark brownish colour, remaining uniform on the entire surface. Dimensions: L: 10.2 cm; 1: 3.5 cm; 1^: 4.5 cm; w: 489 g. Mure? County Museum, inv. nr. 5174. 7 7. Socketed axe (PL 3/7), similar with the first two pieces, having a straight and slightly thickened rim, with the two margins stretching almost parallel to the cutting edge. This is slightly curved, widened and sharpened at the corners. Under the rim, in the area of the attachment loop the axe is decorated with two horizontal ribs. Under these four vertical and much curved ribs appear, from which the upper two unite under one single rib in the lower part of the socket, the other two stretching parallel with the inner ones. The ribbing decoration ends in the upper part of the blade. Nowadays the socketed axe cannot be identified, according to Z. Székely it remained in the property of M. Bakó. Dimensions: L: 10 cm, 1: 3 cm.
