FRAGMENTARY DISCOVERIES WITHOUT CONTEXT - WHAT CAN WE LEARN MORE? AN ARCHAEOMETRIC APPROACH ON A FORTUITOUS FIND FROM NORTH-EASTERN ROMANIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14795/j.v9i2.729Keywords:
OM, SEM-EDX, FT-IR, Late Bronze Age, NE RomaniaAbstract
The ʽaccidentalʼ discovery of archaeological material represents an ordinary fact in today’s archaeology. Unfortunately, most of these discoveries have no archaeological context, thwarting the possibility of integrating the objects in more complex studies. In this context, based on the type of data that the archaeometric study of metal objects provides (information regarding prehistoric metallurgy, especially the used alloys and technologies), we propose for analysis two metal pieces (a socketed axe and a sickle) fortuitously found in Dobrovăt (Iași County), in order to see how much information can we gather for two fragmentary objects, without archaeological context. The methods used are optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR) and our aim is represented by the obtainment of important information about patina and corrosion products, the metals used and how these objects were manufactured and utilised. As a result, the before mentioned methods illustrated a number of special features regarding the metallurgical practice of the Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Carpathian area, contributing to the expansion of the database in this chronological and geographical area.
Downloads
References
AMKREUTZ/FONTIJN/GENTILE 2019
Amkreutz, L. W.S.W., Fontijn, D. R., Gentile, V., Down by the River. A Late Bronze Age full -hilted sword from the river Meuse near Thorn and Wessem, In: Arnoldussen, S./Ball, E.A.G/van Dijk, J./Norde, E./de Vrie, N. (eds.), Metaaltijden 6. Bijdragen in de studie van de metaaltijden (Leiden: Sidestone Press), 113-121.
AROKE/ABDULKARIM/OGUBUNKA 2013
Aroke, U.O./Abdulkarim, A./Ogubunka, R.O., Fourier-transform Infrared Characterization of Kaolin, Granite, Bentonite and Barite, ATBU Journal of Environmental Technology 6 (1), 42-53.
BARILARO et alii 2008
Barilaro, D./Barone, G./Crupi, V./Majolino, D./Mazzoleni, P./Tigano, G./Venuti, V., Ft-IR absorbance spectroscopy to study Sicilian ‘‘proto-majolica’’ pottery, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vibspec.2008.01.005.
BARON/MIAZGA/NOWAK 2014
Baron, J./Miazga, B./Nowak, K., Functions and contexts of Bronze Age metal casting moulds from Poland, Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française 111 (2), 325-338.
BARON et alii 2020
Baron, J./Maciejewski, M./Miazga, B./Nowak, K./Sych, D., More Bronze Age less bronze: copper axes in the late Bronze Age hoard from Karmin, Poland, https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.139.
BRANDHERM 2018
Brandherm, D., Fragmentation patterns revisited: ritual and recycling in Bronze Age depositional practice, In: Brandherm, D./Heymans, E./Hofmann D. (eds.), Gifts, Goods and Money. Comparing currency and circulation systems in past societies (Oxford: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd), 45-65.
BUTTERFIELD 2017
Butterfield, V., Broken: Consolidating Killed Objects and Conservation, dissertation (London: UCL Institute of Archaeology).
CHAPMAN 2000
Chapman, J., Fragmentation in archaeology. People, places and broken objects in the prehistory of South Eastern Europe (London-New York: Routledge).
CHEN et alii 2015
Chen, Y./Zou, C./Mastalerz, M./Hu, S./Gasaway, C./Tao, X., Applications of Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in the Geological Sciences—A Review, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms161226227.
CHIRICA/TANASACHI 1984
Chirica, V., Tanasachi, M., Repertoriul arheologic al județului Iași (Iași: Academia de Științe Sociale și Politice a R.S. România).
CIUGUDEAN 2010
Ciugudean, H., Piesele de aur din depozitul Cugir I și relația lor cu sistemele metrologice din bronzul târziu, Apulum XLVII, 23-40.
CIUGUDEAN et alii 2006
Ciugudean, H./Luca, S.A./Georgescu, A., Depozitul de bronzuri de la Dipșa (Sibiu: Bibliotheca Brukenthal).
COLUMBINI et alii 2005
Columbini, M.P./Giachi, G./Modugno, F./Ribechini, E., Characterisation of organic residues in pottery vessels of Roman age from Antinoe (Egypt), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2004.05.004.
CORNACCHIA/ROBERTI/FACCOLI 2020
Cornacchia, G./Roberti, R./Faccoli, M., Metallurgical and Technological Investigation with Experimental Archaeometallurgical Reproduction of a Lombard Bronze Buckle from North Italy, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-020-00518-y.
COSTA et alii 2017
Costa, T.G./Correia, M.D. De M./Reis, L.B./Dos Santos, S.S./Machado, J.S./Bueno, L./Da Silva Müller, I., Spectroscopic characterization of recently excavated archaeological potsherds of Taquara/Itararé tradition from Tobias Wagner site (Santa Catarina-Brazil), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.03.014.
DAMJANOVIĆ et alii 2011
Damjanović, L./Holclajtner-Antunović, I., Mioć, U.B./Bikić, V./Milovanović, Radosavlkević D./Evans, I., Archaeometric study of medieval pottery excavated at Stari (old) Ras, Serbia, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2010.11.004.
DASCĂLU 2007
Dascălu, L., Bronzul mijlociu și târziu în Câmpia Moldovei (Iași: Editura Trinitas).
DERGAČEV 2002
Dergačev, V., Die äneolithischen und bronzezeitlichen Metallfunde aus Moldavien (Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag).
DERGAČEV/BOČKAREV 2006
Dergačev, V./Bočkarev, V., Secerile de metal din epoca bronzului târziu din Europa de Est (Iaşi: Editura Academiei Române).
DIACONU 2014
Diaconu, V., Cultura Noua în regiunea vestică a Moldovei, PhD thesis (Iași: Institutul de Arheologie Iași).
DINU/COMAN 1964
Dinu, M./Coman, G., Depozitul de obiecte de bronz de la Bozia Nouă (raionul Bîrlad, reg. Iași), Arheologia Moldovei 2-3, 471-474.
FLORESCU 1964
Florescu, A., Contribuții la cunoașterea culturii Noua, Arheologia Moldovei 2-3, 143-216.
GASAWAY et alii 2017
Gasaway, C./Mastalerz, M./Krause, F./Clarkson, C./Debuhr, C, Applicability of micro-FTIR in detecting shale heterogeneity, https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.12463.
GOLYEVA et alii 2018
Golyeva, A./Khokhlova, O./Lebedeva, M./Shcherbakov, N./Shuteleva. I., Micromorphological and Chemical Features of Soils as Evidence of Bronze Age Ancient Anthropogenic Impact (Late Bronze Age Muradymovo Settlement, Ural Region, Russia), https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8090313.
HARDING 2000
Harding, A.F., European Societies in the Bronze Age (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
HOFFMANN 1999
Hoffmann, C., Intentional damage as technological agency: breaking metals in Late Prehistoric Mallorca, Spain, In: Dobres, M.-A./Hoffmann, C. (eds.) The social dynamics of technology: practice, politics and world views (Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution Press), 103-124.
KACSÓ 2007
Kacsó, C., Descoperiri de bronzuri din nordul Transilvaniei (I), Colecția Ferenc Floth (Baia Mare: Muzeul Județean de Istorie și Arheologie Maramureș).
KOTLAR et alii 2021
Kotlar, M./Matijaković Mlinarić, N./Desnica, V./Marušić, K., Studying a 2 millennia old bronze kettle using easily accessible characterization techniques, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00484-6.
KOWALSKI et alii 2019
Kowalski, Ł./Garbacz-Klempka, A./Gackowski, J./Ścibior, D./Perek-Nowak, M./Adamczak, K./Długosz, P., Towards direct casting: Archaeometallurgical insight into a bronze mould from Elgiszewo, Poland, 900–700 BC, Archeologické rozhledy LXXI, 45-66.
LAZANU 2016
Lazanu, C.C., Epoca Bronzului în Podișul Bârladului, PhD Thesis (Iași: Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași).
LING et alii 2014
Ling, J./Stos-Gale, Z./Grandin, L./Billström, K./Hjärthner-Holdar, E./Persson, P.-O., Moving metals II: provenancing Scandinavian Bronze Age artefacts by lead isotope and elemental analyses, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.07.018.
MANIATIS/TITE 1981
Maniatis, Y./Tite, M.S., Technological Examination of Neolithic – Bronze Age Pottery from Central and Southeast Europe and from the Near East, Journal of Archaeological Science 8, 59–76.
MARCOUX et alii 2002
Marcoux, E., Grancea, L., Lupulescu, M., Milési, J. P., Lead isotope signatures of epithermal and porphyry-type ore deposits from the Romanian Carpathian Mountains, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-001-0223-x.
MARITAN et alii 2005
Maritan, L./Mazzoli, C./Nodari, L./Russo, U., Second Iron Age grey pottery from Este (northeastern Italy): study of provenance and technology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2004.09.003.
MARITAN 2020
Maritan, L., Ceramic abandonment. How to recognize post-depositional transformations, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01141-y .
MĂȚĂU 2010
Mățău, F., Patterns of Deposition. The Metal Artefacts at the End of the Bronze Age and the Beginning of the Iron Age in the Lower Danube Region, In: Bolohan, N./Mățău, F./Tencariu, F.A. (eds.), Signa Praehistorica. Studia in Honorem Magistri Attila László Septuagesimo Anno (Iași: Editura Universității Alexandru Ioan Cuza), 245-263.
MELINTE 1975
Melinte, G., Depozitul de bronzuri de la Ghermănești (jud.Vaslui), Arheologia Moldovei 8, 309-313.
MIRCEA et alii 2012
Mircea, O./Sandu I./Vasilache V./Sandu A. V., Study of the Atypical Formations in the Corrosion Bulks of an Ancient Bronze Shield, by Optical and Electron Microscopy, https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.22090.
MITREA 1971
Mitrea, I., Depozitul de bronzuri de la Heleșteni, Memoria Antiquitatis 3, 183-192.
MONTERO et alii 2003
Montero, I./Rovira, S./Delibes, G./Fernández-Manzano, J./Fernández-Posse, D./Herrán, J. I./Martín, C./Maicas, R., High leaded bronze in the Late Bronze Age metallurgy of the Iberian Peninsula, In: Associazione italiana di metallurgia (ed.), International conference: archaeometallurgy in Europe: 24-25-26 September 2003, Milan, Italy: proceedings (vol.2.) (Milano), 39-46.
MÖDLINGERA/TREBSCHE 2020
Mödlingera, M./Trebscheb, P., Archaeometallurgical investigation of a Late Bronze Age hoard from Mahrersdorf in Lower Austria, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102476.
MÖDLINGER/TREBSCHE/SABATINI 2021
Mödlinger, M./Trebsche, P./Sabatini, B., Melting, smelting, and recycling: A regional study around the Late Bronze Age mining site of Prigglitz-Gasteil, Lower Austria, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254096.
NADEAU/TITE 1987
Nadeau, P.H./Tite, J.M., Transmission electron microscopy, In: Wilson, M.J. (ed.) A handbook of determinative methods in clay mineralogy (Glasgow-London: Blackie & Son Ltd.), 209-247.
NEBELSICK 2000
Nebelsick, L., Rent asunder: ritual violence in Late Bronze Age hoards, In: Pare, C.F.E. (ed.) Metals Make the World Go Round; The Supply and Circulation of Metals in Bronze Age Europe. Proceedings of a conference held at the University of Birmingham in June 1997 (Oxford: Oxbow Books), 160-175.
NICULICĂ 2015
Niculică, B., Epoca Bronzului în Podișul Sucevei (Suceava: Editura Karl A. Romstorfer).
NODARI et alii 2007
Nodari, L./Marcuz, E./Maritan, L./Mazzoli, C./Russo, U., Hematite nucleation and growth in the firing of carbonate-rich clay for pottery production, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2007.03.031.
OANCEA et alii 2017
Oancea, A.V./Bodi, G./Nica, V./Ursu, L.E./Drobota, M./Cotofana, C./Vasiliu, A.L./Simionescu, B.C./Olaru, M., Multi-analytical characterization of Cucuteni pottery, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2017.07.018.
PAPACHRISTODOULOU et alii 2006
Papachristodoulou, C./Oikonomou, A./Ioannides, K./Gravani, K., A study of ancient pottery by means of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy multivariate statistics and mineralogical analysis, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2006.02.012.
PAPADOPOULOU/VASSILIOU 2021
Papadopoulou, O./Vassiliou, P., The Influence of Archaeometallurgical Copper Alloy Castings Microstructure towards Corrosion Evolution in Various Corrosive Media, https://doi.org/10.3390/cmd2020013.
PERNICKA 2014
Pernicka, E., Provenance Determination of Archaeological Metal Objects, In: Roberts, B. W./Thornton, C.P. (eds.), Archaeometallurgy in Global Perspective (New York: Springer), 239-268.
PERNICKA/LUTZ/STÖLLNER 2016
Pernicka, E./Lutz, J./Stöllner, T., Bronze Age Copper Produced at Mitterberg, Austria, and its Distribution, https://doi: 10.1553/archaeologia100s19.
PETRESCU-DÎMBOVIȚA 1977
Petrescu-Dîmbovița, M., Depozitele de bronzuri din România (București: Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România).
PETRESCU-DÎMBOVIȚA 2010
Petrescu-Dîmbovița, M., Perioada târzie a Epocii Bronzului, In: Petrescu-Dîmbovița, M./Vulpe, A. (eds.) Istoria românilor, I, Moștenirea timpurilor îndepărtate (București: Editura Enciclopedică), 266-281.
RAMPAZZI et alii 2017
Rampazzi, L./Brunello/V./Corti/C./Lissoni, E., Non-invasive techniques for revealing the palette of the Romantic painter Francesco Hayez, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2017.01.011.
RAVISANKAR et alii 2010
Ravisankar, R./Kiruba, S./Eswaran, P./Senthilkumar, G./Chandrasekaran, A., Mineralogical Characterization Studies of Ancient Potteries of Tamilnadu, India by FT-IR Spectroscopic Technique, https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/643218.
RENFREW 1978
Renfrew, C., The anatomy of innovation, In: Green, D./Haselgrove, C./Spriggs, M. (eds.), Social organisation and settlement (Oxford: BAR International Series), 89-117.
REZI 2011
Rezi, B., Voluntary destruction and fragmentation in Late Bronze Age hoards from Central Transylvania, In: Berecki, S./Németh, R.E./Rezi, B. (eds.), Bronze Age Rites and Rituals in the Carpathian Basin, Proceedings of the International Colloquium from Târgu-Mureș, 8-10 October 2010 (Târgu-Mureș: Editura Mega), 303-334.
RUSU 1966
Rusu, M., Depozitul de bronzuri de la Balșa, Sargetia 4, 17-40.
SALISBURY 2020
Salisbury, R.B., Advances in Archaeological Soil Chemistry in Central Europe, http://dx.doi.org/10.24916/iansa.2020.2.5
SANDU et alii 2010
Sandu, I./Cotiugă, V./Sandu, A. V./Ciocan, A.C./Olteanu, G.I./Vasilache, V., New archaeometric characteristics for ancient pottery identification, International Journal of Conservation Science 1 (2), 75-82.
SANDU et alii 2012
Sandu, I. G./Mircea, O./Vasilache, V./Sandu, I., Influence of Archaeological Environment Factors in Alteration Processes of Copper Alloy Artifacts, https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.22110.
SANTOS RODRIGUES/LIMA DA COSTA 2016
Santos Rodrigues, S.F./Lima Da Costa, M., Phosphorus in archaeological ceramics as evidence of the use of pots for cooking food, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.10.038.
SAVA 2014
Sava, E., Așezări din perioada târzie a Epocii Bronzului în spațiul pruto-nistrean (Noua-Sabatinovka) (Chișinău: Biblioteca "Tyragetia").
SCHIFFER 2010
Schiffer, M.B., Behavioral Archaeology. Principles and Practice (London-Oakville: Equinox Publishing Ltd).
SENTHIL KUMAR/RAJKUMAR 2014
Senthil Kumar, R./Rajkumar, P., Characterization of minerals in air dust particles in the state of Tamilandu, India through FTIR Spectroscopy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infrared.2014.06.002
SÎRBU et alii 2020
Sîrbu, M./Topal, D./Sava, E./Dermenji, L., Piese de bronz descoperite în aşezările culturilor Noua-Sabatinovka din colecţia Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei, Tyragetia, s.n. XIV [XXIX](1), 77-101.
SÎRBU et alii 2021
Sîrbu, M., Topal, D., Sava, E., Dermenji, L., Bronze objects discovered in the settlements of the Noua-Sabatinovka cultures from the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova, http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5759857.
SYCH et alii 2020
Sych, D./Nowak, K./Maciejewski, M./Miazga, B./Baron, J., Influence of conservation of copper and bronze artefacts on traces of production and use-wear, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01115-0.
VASILACHE et alii 2013
Vasilache, V./Boghian, D./Chirculescu, A. I./Enea, S.-C./Sandu, I., Conservation State Assessment and Determination of Certain Archaeometric Characteristics for Two Bronze Items from the Early Hallstatt Period, Revista de Chimie 64 (2), 152-157.
VASILACHE et alii 2014
Vasilache, V./Sandu, I./Enea, S.C./Sandu, I.G., Determinări ceramografice pe loturi din siturile Costești și Giurgești, In: Boghian, D./Enea, S.C./Ignătescu, S./Stanc, S.M. (eds.), Comunitățile cucuteniene din zona Târgului Frumos: cercetări interdisciplinare în siturile de la Costești și Giurgești, (Iași: Editura Universității „Alexandru Ioan Cuza”), 138-147.
VASILACHE/KAVRUK/TENCARIU 2020
Vasilache, V./Kavruk, V./Tencariu, F.A., OM, SEM-EDX, and micro-FTIR analysis of the Bronze Age pottery from the Băile Figa salt production site (Transylvania, Romania), https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.23451.
VILAÇA/BOTTAINI 2019
Vilaça, R./Bottaini, C., Breaking Metals and Handling Ideas about Bronze Age Hoards from Western Iberia. Material Patterns, Invisible Behaviors and Possible Interpretations, In: Valera, A.C. (ed.), Fragmentation and Depositions in Pre and Proto-Historic Portugal (Lisbon), 125-139.
VULPE 2001
Vulpe, A., Structuri sociale și credințe religioase în epoca bronzului și în prima epocă a fierului, In: Petrescu-Dîmbovița, M./Vulpe, A. (eds.), Istoria Românilor, I, Moștenirea timpurilor îndepărtate (București: Editura Enciclopedică), 353-377.
WITTENBERGER 2008
Wittenberger, M., Economical life in Noua Culture in the Transilvanian Late Bronze Age, Acta Musei Napocensis 43-44, 5-46.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal, we use CC BY-NC-ND license (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs) wich only allowing others to download your works and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
