Marta, Livius et al.: The Late Bronze Age Settlement of Nyíregyháza-Oros „Úr Csere” (Satu Mare, 2010)

V. Ioan Bejinariu: Metal Objects

quantity is in contrast with the evidence available on the producing of the respective pieces, namely the reduced number of moulds used for obtaining such axes. Most of the casting moulds known were used for producing some older types of axes, namely the B1 types of fight-axe with disk on neck. We are referring to the casting moulds discovered at Ritopek/Vinca (Serbia)249, Dunaújváros (Hungary)250, Barca (Slovakia)251, Otomani (Romania)252, Şimleu Silvaniei (Romania)253, Satchinez (Romania)254. As regards the pieces cast in the moulds discovered at Sântion255 and Lăpuş256 (both located in Romania), it is difficult to specify whether they were used for butted axes or for other bronze items. The fragment of valve discovered in the Oros pit is among the few that attest the producing of the later types of butted axes through the method of the mould casting. The small number of such moulds raises the question whether the majority of butted axes found in the eastern part of the Carpathian Basin were not made by casting, through the process of the lost wax (cire perdue) or in clay made valves.

Another fragmentary mould was discovered following the research of the ditch (C 200), detected on the west side of the sit. As in the case of the previously described mould, it is also made of soft, silicified sandstone, with traces indicating that it was used (PI. 23/7). Sizes: length - 6.3 cm, width - 5.5 cm, thickness - 3.5 cm. The negative renders the outline of a piece with a slightly curved blade. A horizontal line appears in the lower part of the negative, parallel to the blade, with a circular curve above it. A short, slightly oblique incision appears between the circular curve and the horizontal incision. As in the case of the butted axes mould, a wide incision appears in the lower part of the frontal side. The opportunity of this incision can differ for each of the items. In case of the butted axes mould, we consider that this incision could have been important for joining the valve no. 3 (the one for the disc) to the axes valves. In the case of the second valve, the occurrence of this detail makes us think of a different explanation,

249 Werner 1950, p. 305. B. Wanzek, based on the data received from the National Museum of Beograd, believes that the mould originates from Vinca - Wanzek 1989, p. 147, PI. 50/2a-c.

250 Mozsolics 1967, p. 42.

251 Furmánek 1980, PI. 6, no. 116; Novotná 1980, p. 184, pi. 53, no.- p. 1506-1508; Bóna 1992, p. 62.

252 Ordentlich 1963, p. 136, PI. 16/12; Vulpe 1970, p. 75.

253 Bejinariu 2010.

254 Vulpe 2970, p.75; Miclea-Florescu 1980, p. 362; Gogâltan 1999, p. 103, 147-148, PI. 19/3, 47/3; Szentmiklósi- Draşoveanu 2004, p. 53.

255 Dumitraşcu 1989, p. 129-130, PL XXV-XXVIII.

256 Kacsó 1981, p. 75, PI. 48 /T 11,3 (Kacsó hesitates between a massive socketed axe and a butted one when trying to name the type of object that used to be cast in the valve fragment recovered from tumulus 11,); Kacsó 2001, p. 239, PL 27/H 11,3. Wanzek appreciates that the mould renders a part of a scoketed axe blade - Wanzek 1989, p. 201, no. 47d.

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