Interdisciplinary Study of the Stone Mould for Double Axe from Ada Tepe

PETIA PENKOVA Laboratory for Analysis, Conservation and Restoration, National Institute of Archaeology with MuseumBulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

Three Types Double Axes from the Territory of Bulgaria During the Late Bronze Age

THRAKIEN

Axes

Moulds

The Mould from Ada Tepe

The Mould from Breznik

(after Chernih 1978)

Moulds form Early Bronze Age

Moulds From Middle and Late Bronze Age

Summary of Metals and Moulds Techniques Used in the Copper and Bronze Ages

Period. Moulding Material Metal

Copper Age Stone Cu (1850-1650 B.C.) Cu/As

Early Bronze Age Stone Cu/Sn(1650-1400 B.C.) (Cu/As)

Middle Bronze Age Stone Cu/Sn(1400-850 B.C.) (Some Bronze and clay)

Late Bronze Age Clay Cu/Sn/Pb(850-400 B.C.) (Some stone and bronzes)

(after Tylecote 1962)

The investigations of E. Chernih

Chemical groups Bi Ag Sn As Ni Co

X ≥ 0,002 0,003-0,5 0,01-3 0,03-2 0,01-1 0,03-0,2 XI ≤ 0,002 0,0001-0,03 0,005-2 0,01-3 0,03-1 0,003-0,2 XII ≤ 0,001 0-0,001 0-0,05 ≤0,3 ≤ 0,03 ≤ 0,01

Analysis on double axes from Late Bronze Age

Cu Sn Pb Zn Bi Ag Sb As Fe Ni Co Mn AuAxe fromSemerdjievo base 2 0,005 - ? 0,0001 0,004 0,1 0,05 0,006 0,004 - -Axe fromKalugerovo base 3,5 0,012 - - 0,0005 0,005 0,2 0,02 0,017 0,006 0,02 0,001 Axe from Kirkovo base 0,07 0,05 - - 0,0005 0,018 0,8 0,4 0,09 - 0,01 ?

(after Chernih 1978)

Analysis of the crucible from Mucking

Reaction Free Energy kJ/moleO2)

4Cu + O2 → 2Cu2O 1362Cu + O2 → 2CuO 65.32Pb + O2 → 2PbO 183Sn + O2 → SnO2 293

Free energies for formation of oxides (from Reed 1971).

metal Vapour pressure (mm Hg)

lead 4.91copper 3.5 x 10 -4

tin 8.7 x 10 -4

Vapour pressure for different metallic elements at 1000º C (after Brandes 1983).

Analysis of the crucible from Mucking

X-Ray Image of the Mould from Ada Tepe

The Mould from Breznik

The Results of the Analysis

Results from the EDXRF analysis on the mould from Ada Tepe

Results from the EDXRF analysis on the mould from Ada Tepe

Comparative Diagram of the Results from the Moulds of Ada Tepe and Breznik

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Si Fe S Cr Ca Ni Cu Ti K Mn Sn Pb

Ada Tepe

Breznik

References

I. Panayotov. 1980. Bronze Rapiers, Swords and Double Axes from Bulgaria. – Thracia, V, 173-198. Е.

R. Tylecote. 1962. Metallurgy in Archaeology. London.Черных. 1978. Горное дело и металлургия в

древнейшей Болгарии. София.D. Dungworth. 2000. A Note on the Analysis of Crusibles and moulds. –

Historical Metallurgy, 34 (2), 83-86.Barnes I nd. The analysis and Recreation of Bronze and Brass Mould

Residues. - The Laboratory of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland 2, 40-44

J. Bayley. 1989. Non-metallic evidences for metalworking. – Archaeometry. Proceedings of the 25 nd International Symposium, 293-303 (Amsterdam)

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