Manufacturing processes of S-shaped temple rings from Vrbno, Central Bohemia

0381549 - ARÚ 2013 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Ottenwelter, Estelle - Hošek, Jiří - Děd, J. - Štefan, I.
Manufacturing processes of S-shaped temple rings from Vrbno, Central Bohemia.
Archeologické rozhledy. Roč. 64, č. 3 (2012), s. 525-533. ISSN 0323-1267
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z80020508
Keywords : S-shaped temple rings * Early Middle Ages * Vrbno * tinning * gilding * silver plating
Subject RIV: AC - Archeology, Anthropology, Ethnology

This contribution is focused on the typological, material and technological study of a set of fifty five S-shaped temple rings found in the excavations of an early medieval cemetery in Vrbno (distr. Mělník). The goals of the study were to identify the different types of S-shaped temple rings present in the set, and to highlight the different techniques used in their manufacture. The temple rings were characterized by observation under optical stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM), supplemented by the results of non-destructive analyses by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and electron microanalysis (EDX). The results have shown that most of the temple rings were made of copper with small amounts of tin, lead and zinc although some were made of almost pure copper and a few of low zinc brass with some arsenic. Investigation also revealed that some temple rings were plated with tin, silver or gold.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0211994