Chemical composition analyses of new raw copper hoards from South Bohemia A contribution to the metallurgy of the Early Bronze Age

0338949 - ÚJF 2010 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Frána, Jaroslav - Chvojka, O. - Fikrle, Marek
Chemical composition analyses of new raw copper hoards from South Bohemia A contribution to the metallurgy of the Early Bronze Age.
Památky archeologické. Roč. 100, - (2009), s. 91-118. ISSN 0031-0506
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z10480505
Keywords : Early Bronze Age * South Bohemia * elemental analyses
Subject RIV: AC - Archeology, Anthropology, Ethnology

This work has studied elemental composition of raw copper contained in recently excavated hoards from Early Bronze Age in Southern Bohemia. The analyses were applied to hoards from Pridoli, Purkarec, Chvalsiny, Kladne-Zhorkov and two finds from Nova Ves near Kremze. In addition, also an older hoard found at Nove Vrato (in 1964) was analyzed. The hoards contained ingot torques, ribs and formless fragments of plane-convex ingots of raw copper. Together with torques from Nova Ves two spiral armrings were found; with pigs of Kladne an axe fragment and dagger blade; with fragments from Nova Ves an axe of Krtenov type. Based on statistical evaluation of composition of ingot torques analyzed here and completed by approximately further 2700 analyses from Central Europe a hypothesis is presented that material of ingot torques could be prepared by smelting pure chalcopyrite ore.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0182596