Marta, Livius et al.: The Late Bronze Age Settlement of Nyíregyháza-Oros „Úr Csere” (Satu Mare, 2010)
V. Ioan Bejinariu: Metal Objects
one outside the technological area, namely that it represented a marking. The aspect of the piece rendered into the negative indicates that it was used for casting socketed axes. As already mentioned, both the described moulds are fragmentary and their deterioration could have occurred naturally, as they were used at high temperatures that could affect the already soft rock that they were made of. Still, others believe that some of the moulds were deliberately destroyed and sometimes deposited within certain contexts with an assumed ritual character257. The pit in which the mould for the butted axe was deposited, together with two vessels deposited in whole, might have had this type of character. A single mould was discovered in the complexes associated to the Late Bronze researched on the site no. 33. It was discovered in the pit marked with the index C 58, in association with a quasi-whole tall cup, respectively fragments from other several pots (PL 39/5). It is about approximately a quarter of the valve of a mould made of silicified, dark brown sandstone. The negative of the valve fragment renders a slim piece, most probably a chisel with the edge brim thickened and slightly flanged to the outside. The casting channel is located in the upper area of the valve. A synthetic analysis on the production, the typology and the spatial and temporal distribution of this kind of items in Romania, with consistent referring to the discoveries made in the neighbourhood areas258. At least 10 of the 12 moulds for such pieces discovered in Romania are originating from the western part of the country259. Besides such pieces (crucibles mould) used for melting the raw material or for casting the bronze pieces, several tools used during the confectioning, respectively the finishing and decorating the finite items were also discovered in the researched area. We mention here the bronze item discovered in the complex 33, namely a punching device (PI. 7/4). The drift was made of round bronze bar, with a pointed end and slightly flattened one. Such parts were used for decorating the bronze sheet items or for making the punches for fastening with rivets two pieces of sheet.260 A chisel made of hexagonal bronze bar originates from complex 226 (Pi. 29/7). The upper part of the tool, where it used to be hit, is deteriorated. The chisel was made of a 257 Wanzek 1989, p. 65-66; Boroffka-Ridiche 2005, p. 160-161. 258 Bălan 2009, p. 1-40. 259 Bălan 2009, p. 11. Gogâltan 1999, p. 156-157. Ther number could be higher as in the case of the fragmentary mould valves it is difficult to state, unequivocally, wether we are dealing with the rendering of some chisels or of some socketed axes. Further data on the moulds used for producing chisels are available in: Dietrich 2010 (under publishing). 260 Medeleţ 1987, p. 6. 50
