Marta, Livius et al.: The Late Bronze Age Settlement of Nyíregyháza-Oros „Úr Csere” (Satu Mare, 2010)
V. Ioan Bejinariu: Metal Objects
V. METAL OBJECTS The late Bronze Age period represents the stage of maximum development of the metal processing in the eastern half of the Carpathian Basin. This is confirmed by the big quantity of bronze pieces found in deposits alongside with the numerous artefacts (moulds, nozzles, crucibles, casting scraps etc.) directly connected to the activity of the artisans who made metal pieces on the territory of certain settlements.240 Various bronze items, casting scraps and residues, such as bronze slag (?),241 were discovered in some complexes identified as belonging to the Late Bronze inhabitation from the Nyíregyháza-Oros settlement, „Űr-Cseré” location. A series of pieces discovered in the ditch on the western side of the settlement, as well as metal objects recovered from the mechanically uncovered level of the settlement add to these. The metal pieces and the artefacts that prove the carrying out of the metallurgical processing activities were found in the respective complexes together with pottery under various degrees of fragmentation, and sometimes with bones, stone and daub. Fragments of a ceramic vessel made of coarse-grained paste, with visible remains of melted bronze on its bottom, were discovered in the pit 34, namely a crucible, a recipient frequently used for processing the metal. However, crucibles are not very often found among the discoveries associated to the Late Bronze era of the eastern part of the Carpathian Basin, although proves of metal processing were reported here. A stone crucible is recorded as originating from the Oszlár-„Nyárfaszög” (Hungary) settlement.242 A similar piece was found at Oradea, in an uncertain context, however243, and another one in a Late Bronze settlement, recently researched at Recea, Sălaj County (Romania).244 A fragment originating probably from a mould, made of friable, soapy sandstone with burning traces was discovered in the pit 31. The precarious conservation status of the piece does not allow us to mention what type of pieces was casted in the respective mould. 240 lion 2006, p. 273-301; Bejinariu 2005, p. 47-74; Dumitraşcu 1989, p. 119-168. 241 We use the term of „bronze slag” with the deserved reserve as these residues, found in several pits, were not analysed. Therefore, it is not sue wether we are dealing with actual metalic residues, resulted after the melting-casting process or that it is about burnt and vitrified soil which, sometimes, because of the chemical compositions, can get the aspect of a metallic slag. See also: Vasiliev 2005, p. 14, note 29. 242 Kalicz-Koós 1997, p. 66-71, p. 180, no. 29. 243 Dumitraşcu 1989, p. 127, Pl. XIX. 244 Bejinariu 2009, p. 188. 47
