Kaján Imre (szerk.): Zalai Múzeum 23. (Zalaegerszeg, 2017)
Tarbay János Gábor: Késő bronzkori depó Oltárc–Márki hegyről (Zala m.) Őskori manipulációk, szelektív és recens törések vizsgálata
82 János Gábor Tarbay (Cat. nos. 4.2, 4.4) polishing and sharpening traces32 were documented only (fig. 20, 4—5). The flanged sickles (Cat. nos. 5-13) were the most suitable objects for surface analysis. Based on the position of their casting plug, they were cast from the back of their blade.33 Their cast ribs were chased which can be interpreted either as decoration or a functional post-casting treatment (fig. 21, 7).34 The blade of some sickles (Cat. nos. 6, 8, 11, 12) were hammered35 (e.g. fig. 22, 1) and their edges showed microscopic traces of fine sharpening36 (Cat. nos. 6, 8-11, 13) (fig. 21, 1, 7). Among the cast objects, the decorated annular ring (Cat. no. 42) (fig. 22, 8) was the most spectacular. The object was cast by a bivalve mould37 38 and after its post-casting treatment, it was chased similarly to the sickles, on three sides (fig. 23, 1). The phalerae are the last cast objects (Cat. nos. 50—51) based on the visible casting traces on the reverse side of the objects (fig. 23, 6-7)?% Determining the exact manufacturing technique of the armrings (Cat. no. 24-38) was not possible due to the objects’ intensively worn surfaces (fig. 22, 4-5, 7). The morphology of their decoration was similar to chasing (fig. 22, 6) but they could have been made by different techniques as well. The cast and hammered ring with bundles of lines decoration (Cat. no. 40) is a well-researched type. Its manufacturing techniques were described in the prominent studies of H. Born39 and G. Szabó.40 The tores with rolled terminals share the same technological character. The specimens from the Márki Hill hoard have smooth, well-polished surfaces. Some of them are decorated with chased patterns (Cat. nos. 16-21), one specimen is twisted (Cat. no. 22). Similarly to the armrings, a few tores showed worn surfaces (fig. 22, 3). The fibulae manufactured by different type of techniques (cast and wire)41 42 are hard to analyse by macro-and microscopic examination. I can only add a few but quite interesting comments on the topic of manufacturing. The simplest one is the Vösendorf type fibula which’s body is decorated with torsion. The Röschitz-Sänisläu type fibulae are more complex, their hammered plate body is decorated with chasing which’s traces can be observed on the reverse side of the object (fig. 23, 4-5). From technological point of view the Cat. no. 46 is unique, on its reverse side traces of an unfinished motif can be observed, that the craftsman tried to remove unsuccessfully (fig. 23, 2-3). The technological character of the Márki Hill hoard is uniform and fits well into the general trends of the Late Bronze Age Transdanubian region. Based on the macro-and microscopic examination, three conclusions can be drawn: 1.: Except for the folded bronze sheet (Cat. no. 52) all of these objects were finished products. 2.: The quantity of casting defects among the cast object is low, and the post-casting treatment of the artefacts were carried out carefully. 3.: Most of the objects were deposited in usable state. 3.4. The identification of usage traces To understand the motivation of deposition and the principles of selection in a hoard, the identification of usage traces on the objects is crucial. For such analysis, two main research question should be investigated: What kind of a life circle could an object have before deposition? What is the general usage pattern of the assemblage?43 By a microscope camera it is easy to detect possible usage traces, but due to the lack of systematic experimental archaeological research in the Carpathian Basin, the interpretation of these traces can be problematic. As I have already mentioned, almost every object from the Márki Hill hoard was usable, finished product. In case of the cast objects, the presence of notches, resharpening traces, narrowing blades may indicate their longer life in use. Unfortunately, not all of them were suitable for analysis, the edge of the sword (Cat. 32 See BRUNO 2012, 217., Fig. 7, 2.3; SCHÄPPI 2012, 106-108., Abb. 2. 33 McClendon 2015, Fig. 3,2, Fig. 3,4. 34 SZABÓ 1996, 48. From morphological point of view three different tool imprints can be identified on the ribs: elongated (e.g. Cat. no. 9), narrow (e.g. Cat. no. 8) and oval-shaped (e.g. Cat. no. 7). Their shape can be effected by many factors: hardness of the material, type of the chasing tool, applied technique etc. CORWIN 2010, 11-20. 35 PRIMAS 1986, 2., 6.; GEDL 1995, 3.; NOVOTNÁ 2006, 71.; McCLENDON 2015, 46^t7.; SZABÓ 2013, 90-91. 36 SYCH 2015, 121-122., Fig. 8. 37 For a comparable mould, see: MISKE 1907, Taf. XXIII, 8. 38 For the detailed analysis, see: TARBAY 2017 in press. 39 BORN 1992, 290-294. 40 SZABÓ 1996b, 215., PI. 8, 2-5. 41 For manufacturing techniques of passamenterie fibulae see: EŐRY 2009; TARBAY 2012, 121-122. 42 KOPYTOFF 1986, 65-67.; FONTIJN 2002, 247-257., Fig. 13, 1. 43 BRADLEY 2005, 148-149.
