M. Járó - L. Költő szerk.: Archaeometrical research in Hungary (Budapest, 1988)

Analysis - KÖLTŐ László, KIS VARGA Miklós: Composition analyisis of Roman age enamelled bronze objects

cannot be used for the determination of other low atomic number elements — potassium, sodium — so the use of these elements as a flux, even if it is not probable, cannot be excluded.) Regarding the composition of the basic metals, two groups can be distinguished: tin-lead bronze without zirconium and brass with zirconium content. The last group is represented by the fitting with the inventory number 56.893.7 and the capsule can be classified here too, although because of the approximately 1% zinc content it could not be named brass. In the tin-lead group the greater disk fibula is prominent, while contrary to the other two pieces it does not contain iron in traces amounts, its lead content is almost one quarter of the lead content of brass, of half in respect to the other two pieces. At the same time with the two fibulas, the analysis of an object originating from Dunaújváros (inventory number 66.906.546) was performed too. This was cast after a pattern taken from a Roman fibula. The casting is interesting because it is raw (the casting flash was not removed), moreover, probably not knowing its original purpose, the body, together with the spring and the needle were cast into one block. (Thus, the object actually had no use.) The silver content of its basic material is high (5 54%, Table 2, 6) and this seems to support the later manufacturing date too, perhaps in the Avar age [3,4,5]. References 1. Erhard Brepohl: Industrial Design Enamel Technique Budapest, 1984 p. 18, Table 4. 2. Brepohl, ibid. p. 39 3. For the average great silver content of Avar age bronzes, see: Költő L. — Kis Varga M.: X—Ray Analysis of coatings of the late Avar bronze casts = Proceedings of the 3rd International Restorer Seminar, Veszprém, Hungary 1981 p. 130 (in Hung.) 4. L. Költő — M. Kis Varga: The examination of the platings of late Avar bronze casts, = Proceedings of the 3rd International Restorer Seminar, Veszprém 1981. pp. 128—140, 5. Költő László: Avar kori bronztárgyak röntgenemissziós analízise (X-Ray analysis of Avar age bronze objects) in: Somogyi Múzeumok Közleményei, 1982, pp. 5-68. (in Hung.)