33692
Title Of Article Chaper
Metalworking technology and craft specialization in Bronze Age Denmark
Title Of Journal Book
Archeomaterials
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
55-74
Collation
2 tables
Reference Bibliography
refs.
ISSN
0891-2920
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
Surveys what is known about bronze production technology in Bronze Age Denmark (ca. 1800-500 BC), and adds to the body of work the elemental and metallographic analyses of five objects from the science museum, Discovery Place, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Alloys are all tin bronzes, and range from 1.9 to 22% tin and 0 to 4% lead, with one spot of repair solder containing 9% lead. Some of the alloys are also high in bismuth. Manufacturing and decorating techniques include casting, hammering (especially to harden cutting edges), annealing (sometimes locally), riveting with hammered rivets, chasing, embossing, raising (repoussé), and engraving. Metalworking tools and sites, manufacturing techniques for gold, craft specialization and models for it, and previous work in attempting to source the ores used and the questions of trade versus indigenous production are also covered. The author concludes, It is likely that metalwork was practiced by part-time specialists in diverse circumstances. Diversity of source material and manufacturing technology characterizes the metallurgy in Bronze Age Denmark.
Keywords
Denmark (Arhus);bronze;lead;tin;metallography;solder; bismuth; elemental analysis;gold;metalworking;metallurgy
pub_id
33692