Beeswax remnants, phase and major element chemical composition of the bronze age mould from Gaj Oawski (SW Poland)

Autor(en)

Justyna Baron, Beata Miazga, Theodoros Ntaflos, Jacek Puziewicz, Antoni Szumny

Abstrakt

The recently found metal casting mould from Gaj Oławski (SW Poland) was designed for the production of socketed axes typical for later stages of the Bronze Age in Poland (ca. 1100–900 bc). This unique artefact is a half of a durable, two-piece wedge-shaped mould and measures 17.5 × 7.2 × 4.0 cm. The surface of the mould is covered copper oxides and carbonates, and the remnant of beeswax was found on its inner surface. The metal forming mould consists of cored dendrites of Cu-dominated (Cu >96.5 wt%, up to 2.2 wt% Sn) and Cu impoverished (Cu ~86.0 wt%, Sn ~9.4 wt%, some Sb, As and Ag) end compositions and volumetrically subordinate α + δ eutectoid. The “as cast” structure of the metal shows that the mould was never used for molten metal casting. Since this kind of moulds was used for mass casting of metal, the Gaj Oławski one was probably never used, and the beeswax is the remain of its coating. This is the first remain of the Bronze Age beeswax described in metallurgical context in Europe.

Organisation(en)

Department für Lithosphärenforschung

Externe Organisation(en)

Uniwersytet Wrocławski

Journal

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

Band

8

Seiten

187-196

Anzahl der Seiten

10

ISSN

1866-9557

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-014-0225-0

Publikationsdatum

03-2016

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

105114 Kulturgeologie, 104012 Mikroanalyse

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Anthropology, Archaeology, Archaeology

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/beeswax-remnants-phase-and-major-element-chemical-composition-of-the-bronze-age-mould-from-gaj-oawski-sw-poland(68156bc4-a899-4099-ac7f-8f90b2c3d7d0).html