Workshops in Mecklenburg - AU...
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Alloys as an indicator of individuality The use of alloys in prehistory is a given, however, the intentionality of adding or using arsenic, bismuth or antimony is still under debate. If material knowledge and experience were sufficient enough to use explicit techniques like granulation, why not intentionally alloy the metals in order to achieve subtle changes in colour and workability? If so, it should be possible to trace this in the material. In a comparison, then, technically similar objects should have similar compositions in the alloys resulting in similar properties. The differences in the alloys would be an indication of a change of properties, and therefore a grouping concerning changes in workability would be useful. Are non-destructive analyse enough? Analyses done by the SAM-project in comparison to new RFA-spectrometer analyses as well as compara- tive analyses between corroded and polished parts of the same object have shown that the error rate can be up to 14%. Therefore mobile RFA-spectrometer analyses can only roughly give an idea whether there are intentional alloys and furthermore indicate a relation- ship between technically similar ornaments. Literature: HERNER 1989 E. HERNER, Spiral decoration in Early Bronze Age Scandinavia. British Archaeological Reports 1989 JUNK 2003 M. JUNK, Material properties of copper alloys containing arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. The material of Early Bronze Age ingot torques. (PDF-Version 2003) PERNICKA 1995 E. PERNICKA, Gewinnung und Verbreitung der Metalle in prähistorischer Zeit. Jahrbuch des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Mainz 37. Jahrgang, Teil 1, 1995, 21-129. RØNNE 1989 P. RØNNE, Early Bronze Age Spiral Ornament -the technical Background. Journal of Danish Archaeology 8, 1989, 126-43. WOLTERS 1991 J. WOLTERS, Der Gold- und Silberschmied. Werkstoffe und Materialien1 (Stuttgart 1991). Workshops in Mecklenburg Craftsmen´s traces and metal compositions reveal centres of production 1550-1100 BC by Heide W. Nørgaard Preliminary results Initial studies have shown differences between the ornaments within the style group Mecklenburg. This can be suggestive of possible workshops. A concentration of grave finds including richly decorated bronze ornaments exist between Schwerin and the Müritz Lake area. This region shows a differentiated use of decorative elements together with significant working traces and specific techniques. Additional a preliminary mapping of the extrapolated alloy groups promises further verification of the results described here. Introduction: In archaeology, it has long been common to align typological groups with workshops and centres of production. Today, research shows that determination of a prehistoric workshop is only possible when an object gives an indication of its crafting process and that information can be matched between multiple objects. This logistical argument is based on the hypothesis that each craftsman leaves intuitive marks through their choice of tool, the way in which a decorative element is introduced and combined and the different techniques used. This project´s aim is to investigate middle Bronze Age ornaments (1550-1100 BC) from the Nordic Bronze Age (here specific ornaments in Mecklenburg) concerning their crafting traits to detect “the hand that crafted”. Crafting traces - Focus on “the hand that crafted” The production process of an object leaves traces. Each trace can be set in conjunction with a working step. Given that most of the magnificent decorated ornaments of the middle Bronze Age in northern Europe are cast through the lost wax method, similarities in crafting traces must be clear evidence for one craftsman/workshop. Through a comparative analysis of the individual decorative elements and the technical as well as error traces, the relationship between regions of similar formal elements and workshop areas will be clarified. In addition to common faults in the decoration of the Mecklenburg ornaments, the examination could also reveal new techniques and distinctive features. Wave-like changes in the rib notches... could be caused through the spreading of surplus material that appeared on the cut edges of the rib decoration during the incision of the ribs decoration into the soft wax model. The result would be an accumulation of material on the top of the ribs (Fig. 1). Visible connection of ornament parts... like small notches which indicate a subsequent spreading of material to connect two model parts. As a malleable material is required for this operation, it can be assumed that Weitgendorf needles were crafted as a model to be cast with the lost wax method (Fig. 2). Multiple percussion tracks... are indicated by multiple points of light on bulges suggesting that there have been up to three strikes necessary to give the boss the desired depth (Fig. 3). The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement no.212402. An additional thank you to the “Archäologische Landesmuseum Schwerin”. Heide W. Nørgaard Aarhus University, Section for Prehistoric Archaeology DK-8270 Højbjerg, Denmark Fig. 1 wave-like notches Fig. 2 visible connection Fig. 3 percussion tracks Lubmin, Kr. Ostvorpommern Sarmsdorf, Kr. Güstrow Mecklenburg (ALM LIIQ,2) Weisin, Kr. Lübz Karbow, Kr. Parchim Dabel, Kr. Sternberg Heinrichswalde, (ALM 7236b) Sparow, Kr. Waren Fig. 4 Dissemination map of the investigated ornaments. A geographical division between the use and creation of individual markers (i.e. choice of ornament detail and spiral design) can be seen between Schwerin and the Müritz Lake area.
Transcript of Workshops in Mecklenburg - AU...
Alloys as an indicator of individuality The use of alloys in prehistory is a given, however, the intentionality of adding or using arsenic, bismuth or antimony is still under debate. If material knowledge and experience were sufficient enough to use explicit techniques like granulation, why not intentionally alloy the metals in order to achieve subtle changes in colour and workability? If so, it should be possible to trace this in the material. In a comparison, then, technically similar objects should have similar compositions in the alloys resulting in similar properties. The differences in the alloys would be an indication of a change of properties, and therefore a grouping concerning changes in workability would be useful. Are non-destructive analyse enough? Analyses done by the SAM-project in comparison to new RFA-spectrometer analyses as well as compara- tive analyses between corroded and polished parts of the same object have shown that the error rate can be up to 14%. Therefore mobile RFA-spectrometer analyses can only roughly give an idea whether there are intentional alloys and furthermore indicate a relation-ship between technically similar ornaments. Literature: HERNER 1989 E. HERNER, Spiral decoration in Early Bronze Age Scandinavia. British Archaeological Reports 1989 JUNK 2003 M. JUNK, Material properties of copper alloys containing arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. The material of Early Bronze Age ingot torques. (PDF-Version 2003) PERNICKA 1995 E. PERNICKA, Gewinnung und Verbreitung der Metalle in prähistorischer Zeit. Jahrbuch des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Mainz 37. Jahrgang, Teil 1, 1995, 21-129. RØNNE 1989 P. RØNNE, Early Bronze Age Spiral Ornament -the technical Background. Journal of Danish Archaeology 8, 1989, 126-43. WOLTERS 1991 J. WOLTERS, Der Gold- und Silberschmied. Werkstoffe und Materialien1 (Stuttgart 1991).
Workshops in Mecklenburg Craftsmen´s traces and metal compositions reveal centres of production 1550-1100 BC
by Heide W. Nørgaard
Preliminary results Initial studies have shown differences between the ornaments within the style group Mecklenburg. This can be suggestive of possible workshops. A concentration of grave finds including richly decorated bronze ornaments exist between Schwerin and the Müritz Lake area. This region shows a differentiated use of decorative elements together with significant working traces and specific techniques. Additional a preliminary mapping of the extrapolated alloy groups promises further verification of the results described here.
Introduction: In archaeology, it has long been common to align typological groups with workshops and centres of production. Today, research shows that determination of a prehistoric workshop is only possible when an object gives an indication of its crafting process and that information can be matched between multiple objects. This logistical argument is based on the hypothesis that each craftsman leaves intuitive marks through their choice of tool, the way in which a decorative element is introduced and combined and the different techniques used. This project´s aim is to investigate middle Bronze Age ornaments (1550-1100 BC) from the Nordic Bronze Age (here specific ornaments in Mecklenburg) concerning their crafting traits to detect “the hand that crafted”.
Crafting traces - Focus on “the hand that crafted” The production process of an object leaves traces. Each trace can be set in conjunction with a working step. Given that most of the magnificent decorated ornaments of the middle Bronze Age in northern Europe are cast through the lost wax method, similarities in crafting traces must be clear evidence for one craftsman/workshop. Through a comparative analysis of the individual decorative elements and the technical as well as error traces, the relationship between regions of similar formal elements and workshop areas will be clarified. In addition to common faults in the decoration of the Mecklenburg ornaments, the examination could also reveal new techniques and distinctive features. Wave-like changes in the rib notches... could be caused through the spreading of surplus material that appeared on the cut edges of the rib decoration during the incision of the ribs decoration into the soft wax model. The result would be an accumulation of material on the top of the ribs (Fig. 1). Visible connection of ornament parts... like small notches which indicate a subsequent spreading of material to connect two model parts. As a malleable material is required for this operation, it can be assumed that Weitgendorf needles were crafted as a model to be cast with the lost wax method (Fig. 2). Multiple percussion tracks... are indicated by multiple points of light on bulges suggesting that there have been up to three strikes necessary to give the boss the desired depth (Fig. 3).
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under
Grant Agreement no.212402. An additional thank you to the “Archäologische Landesmuseum Schwerin”.
Heide W. Nørgaard Aarhus University,
Section for Prehistoric Archaeology DK-8270 Højbjerg, Denmark
Fig. 1 wave-like notches
Fig. 2 visible connection
Fig. 3 percussion tracks
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Fig. 4 Dissemination map of the investigated ornaments. A geographical division between the use and creation of individual markers (i.e. choice of ornament detail and spiral design) can be seen between Schwerin and the Müritz Lake area.
