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Veröffentlichungen des Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt – Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte 76, 2020

From a scientific point of view, archaeologists succeeded in finding a real »treasure trove« in 2... more From a scientific point of view, archaeologists succeeded in finding a real »treasure trove« in 2005: During an archaeological excavation in the old town of Magdeburg, about 450 mostly completely preserved stone moulds from the 13th century were unearthed in a single rubbish pit. This find thus represents the largest of its kind in Europe to date and is considered an important pivotal find for the study of medieval realia as well as of the history of technology. In addition to this, the image of Magdeburg’s foundry craftsmanship, which was well-known in the Middle Ages, takes considerable shape, having previously been characterised almost entirely by the »Magdeburger Gießhütte« (Magdeburg foundry). Besides the enormous amount of casting moulds, however, it is precisely also the high-quality elaboration of the cast motifs which is rather remarkable. At the same time, a high degree of standardisation of production and a mass of shapes and motifs can be observed. Among the motifs, dress accessories such as fibulae (brooches) and ornamental fittings predominate, but jewellery, toys, and mounts are also represented in greater numbers.

The find of casting moulds belonged to a workshop that was situated in the backyard of a townhouse plot on the old road »Goldschmiedebrücke« (today the northern end of Regierungsstraße) between Magdeburg’s cathedral precinct and the civil town. The property was located only three house numbers away from the former goldsmith’s guild and was demonstrably used from 1284 onwards for church construction purposes. This precise date is thus a terminus ante quem, because the workshop that had probably been in operation since the 11th century had to be removed for this purpose. Despite several ground-level furnace plates of burnt loess and other features, it was not ascertainable whether the workshop had been used for casting the entire time. The furnaces were repeatedly renewed during the long operating period, which resulted in the floor level being raised by more than 1.5 m. In addition to the furnace structures, rectangular borrow pits and pits with wooden bracing had been set up, reaching down into the loess soil almost as far as 2 m. Remains of two pithouses originate from the early period of the recorded area and date before the commissioning of the workshop. Here, remains of bone carvings and pigments were discovered. The casting moulds themselves were found in a rubbish pit specially set up for their disposal at the time of the abandonment of the workshop. Since not all pieces were located in the pit, it can be assumed that originally more rubbish pits existed, which however remained undocumented due to the rather small excavation area.

The moulds were sampled for petrographic analyses and consist of fine-crystalline limestone that was presumably mined in the northern Harz foreland near the town of Thale. Due to its low heat resistance, this particular type of limestone was not suitable for casting non-ferrous or precious metals; however, it was proven by extensive casting experiments that it could be used for casting pewter and lead. By casting pewter and lead, it was possible to use the moulds several, if not countless times, since they were designed as permanent moulds. At the same time they are products of serial manufacturing: Apparently, standardised raw moulds with even mating surfaces were delivered to Magdeburg and used for certain motifs or groups of motifs depending on size, thickness, and shape. Apart from flat moulds, there are also a number of vaulted exemplars for casting objects of a more sculptural shape, like miniature figures and vessels. Moreover, many of these finds have been worked on both sides and could thus be used alternately for the sequential manu-facturing of objects. Stacking moulds for rationalisation, as they are known in England, are however not represented. Quite a number of pieces show nothing but engraved preliminary drawings or fragmentary motifs, which indicates that these were the back parts of multi-piece casting moulds that did not have to be worked in such great detail. In addition to fine cutting tools divider calipers, engraving needles, various kinds of drills (e.g. spoon or spotting drills), milling tools as well as a lathe were standardly used. The fine-grained rock material of the limestone allowed for a highly precise and detailed cutting of the motifs’ mould cavities, which resulted in very complex and elaborately designed objects.

The casting moulds were mainly constructed from two or three components; however, there are several finds that consisted of four, five, or even eight parts. To ensure the accuracy of fit, holes were drilled in the mating surfaces of each matching moulding which then took up tin-lead dowel pins. For a secure fixation additional wires or bandages had to be wrapped around the moulds.

The casting material was poured through a sprue into the assembled moulds and runners or feed sprues led the material directly into one or multiple cavities. In this manner a large number of objects were serially mass-produced. Engraved vent holes or – in the case of complex objects – internally drilled vent channels, which were connected to the mating surfaces, facilitated the escape of air or gases trapped in the mould cavities. The Magdeburg foundry documents the earliest evidence of this venting technology so far, which was then apparently adapted by other foundries across the whole of Europe.

Apart from two moulds for a pilgrim’s amulet and a badge depicting the Crucifixion, motifs of profane nature predominate in the find material. It can thus be assumed that the foundry produced items for common bourgeois households. The range of motifs is extremely extensive and can be divided into following subject groups:

1. Small- and large-sized fibulae or brooches
2. Decorative fittings and mounts
3. Belt and strap buckles
4. Rings
5. Pendants
6. Buttons and beads
7. Toiletry (e. g. mirror cases)
8. Toys (miniature vessels and figures)
9. Spoons and bowls/plates1o. Chapes for the scabbards of knives or daggers
11. Micro scale or candlestick components
12. Box hardware and fittings
13. Miniature hatchets
14. Religious themes

There is a large variety of shapes within the individual groups, especially with the numerically predominant fibulae/brooches and fittings that together make up a total of c. 60 % of all moulds. The remarkably extensive range of motifs, which presumably was even larger originally, demonstrates that in the 13th century almost everything was cast, which was technically feasible and according to the customers’ desires. In doing so, there seem to have been hardly any technical difficulties, since it was possible to even produce the most complicated and sculptural objects by means of chill casting. Here, one was able to draw on long established and well practised techniques like full-mould and core casting, but more rarely used technologies like slush casting were also mastered. What is furthermore notable is that a lathe was used for creating and developing individual motifs (e. g. scale pans).

Of particular importance is the detected casting material, since it enables statements on a commercial orientation of the workshop. Besides a large number of dowel pins, corroded relics of tin-lead metal were also found in the casting cavities or sprues of several mouldings. In addition to this, a particularly high amount of residues was found in the vent channels, where the metal was pressed in during the casting process. Here, too, scientific analyses have revealed alloys of lead and tin, which were occasionally admixed with a little copper for an increase in hardness. In view of this fact it can be assumed that the entire find complex is associated with pewter casting and previously belonged to a tin foundry. This would thus be the earliest evidence of a presumably independent tin moulder. Even if the workshop produced tin objects (or white metal in general) it is still highly likely that many objects, especially the most elaborate and decorative ones, were modelled after precious metal realia. This is indicated among others by the reper¬toire in itself, but also for example by the imitated granulation works, filigrees, and gems at the finds, and the location of the foundry in a district otherwise charaterised by gold- and silversmithing. It may be suggested that all these workshops were part of some kind of pre-industrial production and trading system of a larger scale, which was made pos-sible by or required a correspondingly large urban market like the one in Magdeburg. This means that we are looking at an exclusively commercially oriented craft, which emerged in a completely different environment than the monastic goldsmithery described by Theophilus Presbyter in the early 12th century. In contrast to a serial and profane mass production, the monastic smithery focused on the manufacturing of elaborate and individual objets d’art for ecclesiastical demands. In this context, the above mentioned cast objects contribute to a change of our point of view regarding day-to-day life in the 13th century by means of their quantity as well as their professional, serial standardisation and compilation within a time horizon before 1280. They indicate a much richer everyday material cul¬ture in the urban milieu than was sometimes suspected. At the same time the Magdeburg foundry with its mass production both for a regional and presumably for a supra-regional market, marks an important step in the history of the development of the town and towards the guild-dominated trade structures of the late Middle Ages. Without doubt, this find of casting moulds thus represents a »treasure trove« in various aspects.

Památky archeologické, Supplementum 21, 2020

The complex detailed analysis and publication of archaeological and anthropological data and the ... more The complex detailed analysis and publication of archaeological and anthropological data and the results of numerous science analyses of archaeological and anthropological material (palaeopathology, epigenetics, isotope analysis, 14C, analyses of metal, amber, stone tools, Sr, O, C and N isotopy etc.) form an essential foundation of the first-rate, comprehensively-conceived research of prehistoric populations. The complex analysis of all skeletons using a broad spectrum of scientific analyses and the possibility of comparison with the results of analyses of material culture are extraordinary in the European context. This enables us, for example, to identify groups of graves/skeletons at the cemetery with similar qualities that could indicate the existence of groups of buried individuals with closer ties (family, interest groups, etc.), while also allowing us to study the manifestations of their behaviour, personal and group relations, health condition and dietary habits etc.

"Bei den umfangreichen archäologischen Untersuchungen der letzten Jahre in der Altstadt von Witte... more "Bei den umfangreichen archäologischen Untersuchungen der letzten Jahre in der Altstadt von Wittenberg kamen wiederholt Drucktypen (Bleilettern) der frühen Neuzeit zu Tage. Damit nimmt die Kleinstadt an der Elbe europaweit eine Sonderstellung ein, denn aus keiner anderen Stadt mit einer entwickelten Druckindustrie sind derartig viele Bodenfunde bekannt. Mittlerweile liegen aus Wittenberg knapp 3000 Typen vor (Berger u. a. 2013). Die große Dichte an Fundstellen von Lettern, die durchaus auch massenhaft auftreten können, erweckt dabei den Eindruck, dass die frühen Drucker relativ achtlos mit den wertvollen Typen umgingen. Neben den als Verlustfunden anzusprechenden Lettern, wie sie beispielsweise bei jüngsten Untersuchungen in der Juristenstraße 16 und der Stadtkirche geborgen werden konnten (Abb. 1; Berger/Rode in Vorber. a), sind andere Letternkomplexe offenbar planmäßig in Latrinen oder Abfallgruben entsorgt worden. Das betrifft beispielsweise die bereits 1997 aufgefundenen etwa 600 Typen aus der Bürgermeisterstraße 5 (Berger/Stieme 2014 im Druck; 2014 im Druck a). Vom 2011 untersuchten Gelände des im nördlichen Teil der Altstadt gelegenen Arsenalplatzes sind knapp 2300 Lettern bekannt, die im Wesentlichen aus nur zwei Abfallgruben stammen (Berger/Rode in Vorber.).

Die beiden hier vorzustellenden, zahlenmäßig dagegen eher bescheidenen Letternfunde vom Gelände des ehemaligen Franziskanerklosters übertreffen die Massenfunde an Bedeutung noch einmal beträchtlich, zumal nicht nur eine Zuordnung zu einer sehr früh und erfolgreich produzierenden Wittenberger Offizin möglich erscheint, sondern gleichzeitig auch bislang einmalige Notentypen gefunden wurden. Im Folgenden sollen zunächst die Fundstelle und die Fundumstände beleuchtet werden, bevor die Lettern selbst, insbesondere hinsichtlich ihrer Typometrie, Typografie und Metallurgie, behandelt werden. Aus den aufgefundenen Typen ergibt sich schließlich die Frage nach der historischen Zuweisung des archäologisch geborgenen Materials, zu deren Klärung alle verfügbaren Informationen zusammengetragen werden. Den Abschluss der Arbeit bilden musiktheoretische Betrachtungen sowie einige Bemerkungen zur Musikgeschichte der Reformationszeit, die gerade durch das Wittenberger Themenjahr 2012 »Reformation und Musik« (Abb. 2) im Vorfeld des 500. Reformationsjubiläums 2017 und eine musikgeschichtliche Ausstellung 2012 in den Franckeschen Stiftungen in Halle (Saale) besondere Aktualität besitzen."

The presented work primarily focuses on both the damascene and patination technique which are arc... more The presented work primarily focuses on both the damascene
and patination technique which are archaeometallurgically
treated within the framework of the Bronze Age
north of the Alps. The aspect of patination is here perceived
as a pure artificial procedure. On the one hand the investigation
should reveal how damascenings were realized on
bronze objects and if the observations provide evidence for
clarifying the provenance of the rarely used inlay technique
– a major question that is still unsolved. On the other hand
authentic methods are to be examined in detail that once
presumably allowed the patination of prehistoric damascened
items for enhancing the weak color contrasts between
base metals and inlays.
First of all the study shows that metal inserts were not
used frequently throughout the whole Bronze Age and in
the different areas north of the Alps. There were longer
gaps between the various stages of the era. In contrast platings
as a special form of damascening (»surface damascening
«) were applied continuously since period Montelius
II, yet this decoration is only a characteristic feature for the
Nordic circle that was not adopted in southern regions.
Using only electron as decoration metal throughout the
entire Bronze Age platings differ from damascenings with
metal inlays (»inlaid damascening«) in another point that
besides gold or electron they mainly availed of unalloyed
copper. Later the spectrum of inlaid damascenings was
enlarged by pewter, bronze, and iron. The investigation
demonstrates furthermore that the cavities for inlays on
most objects were already designed prior casting. However,
multiple evidence is found for reworking cast grooves. Only
in some cases the grooves were made exclusively by chasing
or engraving.
For Late Bronze Age artifacts it becomes clear on account
of stylistic and technical characteristics that the metal inlay
technique was practiced only by few workshops, nevertheless
probably having influenced each other. Such considerations
are much more difficult to proof for the Early and
Middle Bronze Age as there are less damascened pieces. Yet,
similar decoration patterns and techniques suggest interactions
between single craftsmen or workshops. Unfortunately,
the provenance of the damascene technique still
remains unclear despite this new investigation. Though, it
is at least unlikely that the polychrome decoration was
directly adopted from Mediterranean or even Greek prototypes,
but the stimulations rather have to be searched in the
Carpathian region. Finally, also a selfcontained development
somewhere in Central or Northern Europe cannot be
completely ruled out.
On the basis of patination experiments it can be shown
that in fact human urine is suitable for coloration of damascened
objects with copper inlays. Ideally, the medium produces
purple-black patinas on unalloyed copper while the
addition of elements such as tin or arsenic to copper gives
somewhat lighter appearances. High concentrations of tin
result in light yellow or slightly green-gray coatings. Even
these colors may have been desired in prehistory on tin
bronzes as they perfectly contrast with purple-blackish
patinated copper inlays. The investigated method therefore
emerges as a possible and formerly neglected way for patinating
many damascenings of the Bronze Age north of the
Alps. For this, however, some preconditions have to be fulfilled
which are discussed in detail in the following work.

Stone moulds from the late Romanesque - early Gothic Magdeburg. Archaeometric and experimental archaeological studies of medieval pewter casting on selected artefacts

"Of the approximately 500 different stone moulds which came out of a high medieval goldsmiths fro... more "Of the approximately 500 different stone moulds which came out of a high medieval goldsmiths from Magdeburg/Germany, 45 pieces could be examined in detail. The primary goal of the archaeometallurgical and experimental archaeological examinations was to determine the use of the moulds as well as the sort and provenance of the rock material used. Therefore it was possible to extract wedge and powder samples of the rock as well as remains of metal. Moreover all moulds had to be checked with regard to traces of use. Additionally casting and glowing tests were carried out with the potential mould material to study its behaviour under different casting and temperature conditions.
The petrographical examination of thin sections from 15 stone samples with transmitted- and direct-light microscopy and the examination of rock powders has shown the use of a fine-grained Jurassic and/or Cretaceous marly limestone. For it the so called »Plänerkalkstein« of the northern foothills of the Harz Mountains is most probable. But also the »Solnhofener limestone« of the southern part of the Franconian Jura has to be considered.
Because there are no discolorations within the pouring system of all moulds it is clear that they cannot have served for the founding of bronze, gold and silver, which is confirmed by the results of the casting experiments. With energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence analysis, light and scanning electron microscopy it could be shown reliably that 23 metal specimens of the cast system and several registration holes were made of pewter. Sometimes small amounts of copper might have been added to these tin-lead alloys. Because metal residues were available in the cast system at only six moulds, you cannot conclude on the general use of these metals for all of the 500 moulds. With discolorations outside the cast system and bright, powder like coatings on the complete surface at 60 % of all moulds an indirect reference to their use is given. Both observations indicate a heating of the whole mould. This is reinforced by scanning electron microscopic examination of thin sections and diffraction analysis of powder samples which revealed the »burned« character of the coating. Glowing tests with the Plänerkalkstein and Solnhofener limestone demonstrated that discolorations arise from 300 °C upwards, however, decomposition of calcium carbonate starts at around 700 °C. Thus all moulds with a bright surface coating must have been heated at temperatures of at least 700 °C. Such a measure can only be explained plausibly in connection with the metal cast and furthermore with the casting of pewter under consideration of the missing discolorations in the cast system. According to the results of the casting experiments it is quite improbable that the moulds had been heated at high temperatures like 700 °C before their use. However, a general explanation for the motives of a possible heating after founding cannot be given with the performed examinations. So some questions are still unanswered."

Papers by Daniel Berger

Berichte aus dem Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch, 2024

The beginning of the Nordic Bronze Age (NBA) in northern Germany marks a period of innovation, st... more The beginning of the Nordic Bronze Age (NBA) in northern Germany marks a period of innovation, strongly dependent on the import of raw material and metal artefacts. The most striking artefacts from the NBA period IB (1600 - 1500 BCE) include short swords of the Sögel and Wohlde type. They were short double-edged blades that were originally hafted with an organic grip. The types can be distinguished via the shape of their hilt. The Sögel blades are known for a round hilt shape that was regularly decorated. In contrast, the Wohlde types can be distinguished by a trapezoidal hilt that was seldom decorated. What both types have in common is that they suddenly appear within the material culture of the Nordic Bronze Age without any evidence of local metallurgical traditions that could have produced such refined artefacts.
The collection of the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch in Oldenburg contains seven blades of the Sögel-Wohlde types, which are discussed within the framework of an ongoing research project 'Origin, development and technology of the Bronze Age blades of the Sögel-Wohlde-district'. The aim of the project is to study the cultural and material relationships between the Nordic Circle and potential regions of influence such as the Carpathian Basin and the Northern Alpine region. The finds from Oldenburg, which predominantly consist of Sögel-type blades, form part of the story and are studied to correlate archaeological information such as typology, shape, find location including archaeometric data such as chemistry and isotopic signatures of lead, copper and tin. Even though Sögel-type blades were the most common finds around Oldenburg, they were far from uniform based on a large variation in design and decorations. Similar motifs of incised lines, dots and garlands continuously appear yet in different configurations. This suggests that there were no strict cultural norms that allowed for the fluid adaptation of both Nordic and foreign design elements that may have originated in the Carpathian Basin. Archaeometrically however, the blades are very uniform consisting of chalcopyrite copper containing nickel and arsenic as trace elements, suggesting the use of similar copper deposits that may have come from only a limited number of copper suppliers. However, future isotopic studies are required to make further statements which will provide further insights into the material and cultural interdependencies of the Sögel-Wohlde district.

Science Advances eLetter, 2023

This is a brief commentary on an article discussing the origin of tin from the Uluburun wreck. Th... more This is a brief commentary on an article discussing the origin of tin from the Uluburun wreck. The original article has significant flaws in its conclusions about the provenance of the tin, which to correct and contextualise is the aim of the comment. A detailed version is published in Frontiers in Earth Science.

Frontiers in Earth Science, 2023

Tin was a crucial commodity in prehistory to produce bronze, and knowledge of the origins of this... more Tin was a crucial commodity in prehistory to produce bronze, and knowledge of the origins of this metal is important for understanding cultural relations and the complexity and extent of trade. However, many aspects of the provenance of tin are still not resolved. A recent study in Science Advances 8(48) examined the historically significant tin ingots from the Uluburun shipwreck, which are key to the economy and long-distance trade of tin in the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean and beyond. Isotopic and chemical data of the objects was collected, from which a tin origin from Central Asia, particularly Mushiston in Tajikistan, and Anatolia was reconstructed. The study thereby proposed a solution to the long-standing riddle of tin provenance via scientific reasoning and comparative data. While this avenue of investigation is intriguing, this article maintains that the authors' arguments do not support their far-reaching conclusions. Instead, it emphasises the similarities with Late and Middle Bronze Age tin ingots from Israel and Britain, and alternatively suggests a common origin of part of the Uluburun cargo with these items. Southwest England is considered a very likely source region, but other tin ingots of the Uluburun wreck could also originate from Afghanistan and perhaps somewhere else.

Frontiers in Earth Science, 2023

The Bronze Age in Central Asia was dominated by the Andronovo Culture and the Bactria-Margiana Ar... more The Bronze Age in Central Asia was dominated by the Andronovo Culture and the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC). Both cultural entities produced bronze, however, the extent of bronze production and use varied considerably in space and time across their territories. The introduction and spread of bronze metallurgy in the region is commonly associated with the Andronovo Culture, but comparatively little is known about the copper and tin sources that were exploited to make the bronze. To shed light on this aspect, this paper examines 91 bronze artefacts from the Middle Bronze Age (MBA) and the Late Bronze Age (LBA) recovered from twenty sites of Andronovo and the BMAC through a combined evaluation of chemical and isotopic analyses. Trace element patterns and isotopic compositions of lead, tin, and copper are determined for the objects complemented by tin isotope analysis of Central Asian tin ores. The data shows a clear separation of two source areas in the MBA and LBA I: the BMAC obtained copper from polymetallic (tin-bearing) deposits in Iran (Deh Hosein, Nakhlak/Bagh Gorogh) and possibly Afghanistan, while the Andronovo Culture mainly used copper from the Tian Shan Mountains. With the transition to the LBA II, a change in the material basis can be recognised, in which the BMAC increasingly relied on metal deposits from the Andronovo territory. The most important result in this context is the analytical proof of the coextraction of copper and tin from the copper-tin mine at Mushiston, Tajikistan, and the first direct link of tin in bronze objects with a tin deposit. Mushiston apparently supplied both cultural macro regions with a “natural” bronze, which accounted for about one third of all objects analysed, but there is no indication yet that metal or ores from Mushiston were traded or used at a distance of more than 500 km. Moreover, the artefact data indicates a decline in the exploitation of the mine in the course of the developed LBA, while other copper and tin sources in the Tian Shan and probably the Hindukush were exploited. This testifies to the intensive use of the rich mineral resources of Central Asia and beyond, as well as the intensification of cultural and trade contacts between Andronovo and the BMAC.

CONTACTS AND EXCHANGES BETWEEN SARDINIA, CONTINENTAL ITALY AND THE NORTH-WESTERN EUROPE IN THE BRONZE AGE (18TH-11TH C. BC): THE “COPPER ROUTE”, THE “AMBER ROUTE”, THE “TIN ROUTE” Proceedings of the Fih Festival of the Nuragic Civilization (Orroli, Cagliari), 2023

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2022

This paper aims at contributing to a better understanding of the beginnings of tin and bronze met... more This paper aims at contributing to a better understanding of the beginnings of tin and bronze metallurgy in Central Asia by investigating a hitherto unique piece of a bronze slag. The object was originally discovered as a stray find only 4 km away from the large copper-tin deposit of Mušiston in Tajikistan. It contains many prills of bronze and copper as well as small charcoal particles. Radiocarbon dating of the charcoal places the slag in a period between 1900 and 1400 BCE and thus in the Late Bronze Age of the region. This date coincides with radiocarbon dates of relics from underground galleries of the Mušiston deposit. Chemical and microscopic examination demonstrated the slag to be a relic of a co-smelting process, in which a natural assemblage of tin and copper minerals was smelted simultaneously. Both the chemical and the tin and copper isotope compositions clearly link the slag to the nearby polymetallic ores from Mušiston, of which an extensive dataset is presented. The artefact's lead isotope ratios and increased iron concentration in turn indicate intentional fluxing of the original ore charge with iron-dominated ores. These results are the first tangible evidence of a smelting process of tin ores in the entire region and therefore add a new dimension to the findings from previous mining archaeological investigations. At the same time, the results give significant information about the smelting process of secondary polymetallic ores from Mušiston and help in assessing the scientific data of Bronze Age bronze artefacts from Central Asia.

Berg, S. & Metzner-Nebelsick, C. (Hrsg.), Eine einmalige Zinnperlentracht der Frühbronzezeit aus Bayern: „Powerdressing“ vor 4000 Jahren, Inhalte – Projekte – Dokumentationen. Schriftenreihe des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege 23, 2021

The tin beads from the Early Bronze Age (BzA1) graves in Schwabmünchen, district Augsburg, and Bu... more The tin beads from the Early Bronze Age (BzA1) graves in Schwabmünchen, district Augsburg, and Buxheim, district Eichstätt are strong candidates for scientific examination as the metal is in a rare unalloyed form. In the foreground are questions regarding their composition and origin. However, the finds are also interesting in terms of how they were produced and how they should be restored. To date, very few Bronze Age tin finds have been examined metallographically (Hauptmann / Maddin / Prange 2002; Stolz 2011; Wang et al. 2016; Berger et al.). Hence, little is known about the characteristics of archaeological tin at the micro level. Additionally, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of tin’s corrosion behaviour and the related corrosion products. The following presentation of results of the archaeometallurgical studies carried out on the finds of both graves should provide a substantial contribution to the current state of knowledge. In Jörg Stolz’ diploma thesis (2011), some tin beads from the Schwabmünchen graves were examined in depth. K.-P. Martinek and St. Möslein (1998) conducted studies on many beads from Buxheim. These studies were supplemented by analyses of the Bavarian State Conservation Office (BLfD) on other beads from the Schwabmünchen grave. The latter have not been published yet, however. The analyses of the chemical composition and microstructure took place in the BLfD’s central laboratory (Dr. Martin Mach, Dr. Björn Seewald, Christian Gruber and Vojislav Tucić). They will be addressed here and expanded by new and more extensive studies at the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie Mannheim (CEZA). Microsections were prepared from six beads taken from Schwabmünchen (Beads 1–6) and Buxheim (Beads 1–6), respectively. They were examined through light and electron microscopy (Chart 1). Standard procedures were used for the preparation. Prior to this, the chemical and mineralogical composition of these beads and other pieces were determined using X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDRFA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) as a supplement to energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses of the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Furthermore, a total of five beads were dissolved in hydrochloric acid and analysed with respect to their lead and tin isotopic compositions using multicollector mass spectrometry with MC-ICP-MS. It was hoped that this would lead to evidence for the tin’s origin. Tin isotopy is a relatively new means to determine provenance and has to date only been applied on a few bronze and tin artefacts as well as tin ore (Gale 1997; Begemann et al. 1999; Gillis / Clayton 2008; Haustein /Gillis / Pernicka 2010; Balliana et al. 2012; Yamazaki et al. 2013; Yamazaki 2014; Mason et al. 2016; Eine einmalige Zinnperlentracht der Frühbronzezeit aus Bayern Nessel / Brügmann / Pernicka 2015; Berger et al. 2019; Brügmann et al. 2019). It has seldom been possible to make definitive statements about the metal’s origin due to a lack of isotopic data on tin ore. Over the last years, the systematic expansion of the ore and artefacts database have grown to meet the prerequisites for studies of provenance (Haustein /Gillis / Pernicka 2010; Marahrens et al. 2016; Marahrens et al. 2019).

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2022

Since the mid-1970s a Bronze Age assemblage of metal objects has been recovered from the seabed o... more Since the mid-1970s a Bronze Age assemblage of metal objects has been recovered from the seabed off the south Devon coast at Salcombe, southwest England. The assemblage spans two suspected shipwreck events and comprises nearly 400 pieces of raw materials and finished artefacts, primarily in copper, tin, bronze and gold. Among these are 280 copper and 40 tin ingots, by far the largest discovery of Bronze Age ingots in either metal from northwestern Europe. Research in recent years revealed the microstructural and chemical nature of the ingots and enabled some preliminary conclusions on the metals trade in Europe in the Later Bronze Age. The present study aims to extend this knowledge by determining the tin, copper and lead isotopic compositions of the ingots using HR-MC-ICP-MS. In addition, bronze artefacts (swords, rapiers, palstaves and weights) from the Salcombe site are included in the multi-proxy approach in order to investigate their history and the possible relationships between finished products and ingots. In combination with the available chemical data of previous studies, the current results of the tin metal show that most likely two tin sources in southwest Britain supplied the ore for their production. This also sheds light on Late Bronze Age tin ingots from Israel that share the same geochemical characteristics with one group of the finds from Salcombe. Although the tin in the bronzes is similar to the tin in the ingots, it is not certain that the latter were used to make the bronzes. Correlations of copper and tin isotopes and trace elements of the bronzes point to a mixing or even recycling of copper-tin alloys rather than the alloying of individual components of copper and tin. However, the copper ingots from the assemblage could have been an additional component in the mixing process given their impurity pattern and isotopic composition. At the same time, a close relationship between swords of the Rosnoën type and palstaves from the cargo is disclosed. Lead isotope ratios for their part suggest Sardinian and/or south Spanish copper ores as a source for both the copper ingots and the copper of the bronzes. This would mean long-distance metal trade in the Later Bronze Age in both cases and would provide new insights into the interpretation of the prehistoric networks in Europe.

Berger, D., Ditmar-Trauth, G., Wunderlich, C.-H.: Der Magdeburger Gießformenfund: Herausragendes Zeugnis handwerklicher Zinngießer in einer mittelalterlichen Metropole, Dec 2020

Magdeburg zählte im Mittelalter zu den fünf größten und bedeutendsten Städten Deutschlands. Seine... more Magdeburg zählte im Mittelalter zu den fünf größten und bedeutendsten Städten Deutschlands. Seine Ursprünge reichen bis in das 5. bzw. 6. Jh. n. Chr. zurück, als an heutiger Stelle eine königlich-thüringische Ringburg errichtet wurde. Diese Burg, von der heute noch eine Doppelgrabenanlage unter dem Magdeburger Domplatz zeugen könnte, war aufgrund ihrer natürlichen Höhenlage über der nahen Elbfurt strategisch günstig gelegen. Der Fluss konnte an dieser Stelle zum Handel mit den östlich der Elbe siedelnden Westslawen zudem leicht mit Schiffen überquert werden, und so dürfte der Ort dank seiner Gunstlage rasch von einem breit gestreuten Siedlungsumfeld umgeben worden sein...

This pilot study addresses the analytical characterisation of 26 well‐known bronze objects of the... more This pilot study addresses the analytical characterisation of 26 well‐known bronze objects of the Early and Middle Bronze Age of Central and Northern Europe. Besides swords and axes of the hoards from Apa, Téglás and Hajdúsámson, the investigation includes the famous Sky Disc and its accompanying finds from the Nebra hoard and several full‐hilted swords from Period I in Denmark. In contrast to former publications, the isotopic systematics of lead, tin and copper are the focus of the present investigation. With a combined approach, we try to relate the either typologically closely linked or otherwise related artefacts with chemical and isotopic proxies by identifying mixing scenarios. The results demonstrate that artefacts from different locations are most likely not directly linked, but mixing lines across isotope systems suggest a production of the items from common sources by mixing of bronze batches (e.g. bronze ingots), which were probably disseminated between 1600 and 1500 BC. This helps to correlate objects of different locations with each other and to draw conclusions upon typological and cultural connections. Isotopic and chemical correlations of objects within the individual hoards on the other hand allow reconstructions of metallurgical practices in single workshops, which for example implies recycling of metal scrap.

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences , Aug 2021

Gold parting enabled the production of very pure gold for various purposes from the sixth century... more Gold parting enabled the production of very pure gold for various purposes from the sixth century BC onwards, but analytical proof of this pyrotechnical process is difficult. We describe a new analytical approach for the identification of purified gold combining silver and copper isotopic with trace element analyses. Parting experiments were performed with gold-silver-copper alloys using the classical salt cementation process to investigate potential silver and copper isotope fractionation and changes in trace element concentrations. In addition, we provide the first comprehensive dataset of silver isotope ratios of archaeological gold objects from the Mediterranean and Central Europe to test whether or not gold refining can be identified on the basis of isotope systematics. The results show that very heavy silver and copper isotopic compositions are clear evidence for parted gold, but that the application of copper isotopes might be limited.

Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2021: Virtuelle Jahrestagung 17.-19.März 2021, 2021

Berger, D., Ditmar-Trauth, G., Wunderlich, C.-H.: Der Magdeburger Gießformenfund: Herausragendes Zeugnis handwerklicher Zinngießer in einer mittelalterlichen Metropole, Dec 2020

Aufgrund der archäometrischen Untersuchungen besteht kaum Zweifel daran, dass die aus Kalkstein g... more Aufgrund der archäometrischen Untersuchungen besteht kaum Zweifel daran, dass die aus Kalkstein gefertigten Dauergießformen aus Magdeburg zum direkten Gießen von Zinnobjekten bzw. Gegenständen aus Zinnlegierungen oder Blei benutzt wurden. Eine andere Verwendung kommt – mit Ausnahme der Herstellung von Wachsmodellen – angesichts der Temperaturempfindlichkeit des Kalksteins nicht infrage. Es liegt deshalb auf der Hand, mittelalterlichen Kalksteinformen generell eine derartige Verwendung zu unterstellen. Allerdings wurden in der Vergangenheit die wenigsten Fundstücke von anderen Fundorten diesbezüglich analytisch untersucht, sodass nur eine geringe Anzahl von gesicherten Belegen für die genaue Benutzung von Dauerformen aus Kalkstein bzw. aus anderen Materialien vorliegt. Im Folgenden wird das aus Europa stammende Fundmaterial überblicksweise vorgestellt und – soweit anhand von Literaturangaben möglich – hinsichtlich der Verwendung bewertet. Der Fokus liegt v. a. auf chronologisch nahestehenden Vergleichsfunden zu den Magdeburger Gießformen. Daneben werden Weißmetallobjekte besprochen, die in ihrer Machart in vergleichbaren Gießformen entstanden sind.

Berger, D., Ditmar-Trauth, G., Wunderlich, C.-H.: Der Magdeburger Gießformenfund: Herausragendes Zeugnis handwerklicher Zinngießer in einer mittelalterlichen Metropole, Dec 2020

Gießformen sind nicht nur von einem realienkundlichen und kunsthistorischen Standpunkt aus gesehe... more Gießformen sind nicht nur von einem realienkundlichen und kunsthistorischen Standpunkt aus gesehen von großer Bedeutung, sie stellen auch für die archäometallurgische Forschung wichtige Zeugen des Metallhandwerks zu unterschiedlichen Zeitepochen dar. Aus ihnen lassen sich unter anderem unmittelbar Aussagen zur Herstellungstechnik von Gegenständen und den zugrunde liegenden Gießtechnologien ableiten, die anhand der fertigen Metallprodukte nicht immer möglich sind. Hierbei spielt es keine Rolle, ob es sich um verlorene Formen oder um Dauerformen handelt. Wenn man sich jedoch vergegenwärtigt, dass Gießformen im archäologischen Fundbild gegenüber Fertigprodukten einen verschwindend geringen Anteil ausmachen, wird verständlich, wie oft man auf Rückschlüsse aus den Metallobjekten selbst angewiesen ist. Aus diesem Grund und unter dem Gesichtspunkt, dass anderenorts häufig nur einzelne Gießformen angetroffen wurden, kann der Magdeburger Fundkomplex mit seinen annähernd 800 steinernen Einzelfundstücken als einzigartiger Glücksfall angesehen werden. Im Umfang am besten vergleichbar sind höchstens die Funde tausender Lehmgießformfragmente von der Insel Helgö, Stockholms län (Schweden), und aus der Altstadt Lübecks, Schleswig-Holstein, sowie mehrere Funde von hunderten Steingießformen aus Serensk, Pskow und Weliki Nowgorod, alle Russland, sowie Kiew, Ukraine. Zudem liegen recht umfangreiche Funde mit 260 und 47 Gießformen aus dem französischen Mont-Saint-Michel und dem tschechischen Kutná Hora vor.

Der Stellenwert des Magdeburger Komplexes ist aber nicht allein an seiner immensen Fülle zu bemessen. Große Bedeutung besitzt der Fund von steinernen Dauerformen v. a., weil er auf gießereitechnischer und metallurgischer Seite eine Reihe neuer, bisher ungeahnter Einblicke in das hochmittelalterliche Gießereiwesen erlaubt. Außerdem ist die potenzielle Verwendung der Gießformen zur Herstellung von Zinnobjekten bemerkenswert, die in dieser Intensität einmalig wäre und die mittelalterliche Handwerkskultur der Zinngießer – nicht nur derjenigen in Magdeburg – in einem völlig neuen Licht erscheinen lassen würde.

Im Gegensatz zum vorangegangenen Kapitel stehen im Folgenden vorwiegend die gießtechnischen und archäometallurgischen Aspekte der Gießformen im Vordergrund. Dafür war es nicht nur möglich, die Formen eingehend mikroskopisch hinsichtlich der Gesteinsart und auf Gebrauchsspuren hin zu prüfen, sondern auch Metallreste und Gesteinsproben von zahlreichen Exemplaren mit naturwissenschaftlichen Analyseverfahren zu untersuchen. Darüber hinaus wurden Gießversuche mit Vergleichsgestein in die Betrachtungen einbezogen. Diese spezielle Kombination erlaubt es, ein bisher beispielloses, konkretes Verständnis von der Funktion und Geschichte der Gießformen zu erhalten. Bevor jedoch auf die Ergebnisse der naturwissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen eingegangen wird, werden in Ergänzung zu den Darlegungen von G. Ditmar-Trauth (siehe Kap. Der Magdeburger Gießformenfund) zunächst noch einmal technische Kriterien herausgestellt und vertiefend erläutert.

Veröffentlichungen des Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt – Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte 76, 2020

Památky archeologické, Supplementum 21, 2020

Stone moulds from the late Romanesque - early Gothic Magdeburg. Archaeometric and experimental archaeological studies of medieval pewter casting on selected artefacts

Berichte aus dem Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch, 2024

Science Advances eLetter, 2023

Frontiers in Earth Science, 2023

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2022

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2022

Berger, D., Ditmar-Trauth, G., Wunderlich, C.-H.: Der Magdeburger Gießformenfund: Herausragendes Zeugnis handwerklicher Zinngießer in einer mittelalterlichen Metropole, Dec 2020

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences , Aug 2021

Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2021: Virtuelle Jahrestagung 17.-19.März 2021, 2021

Berger, D., Ditmar-Trauth, G., Wunderlich, C.-H.: Der Magdeburger Gießformenfund: Herausragendes Zeugnis handwerklicher Zinngießer in einer mittelalterlichen Metropole, Dec 2020

Ernée, Michal, Langová, Michaela et al. (eds.), Mikulovice: Pohřebiště starší doby bronzové na Jantarové stezce. Early Bronze Age cemetery on the amber road, Památky archeologické, Supplementum 21, PraguePublisher: Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, pp. 409-411, 2020

Grave 50 contained three simple annular tin rings with open ends, two of which were in fragments ... more Grave 50 contained three simple annular tin rings with open ends, two of which were in fragments (Fig. 279; Chap. 11.2.11). The fragments were analysed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and afterwards with a multi collector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) in order to determine the tin isotope composition. The same procedure was followed with the patinas. The chemical compositions of the samples are summarised in Table 67 and show the rings to consist of almost pure tin. Uncorroded metal was used for the isotope analyses. The results were compared to data of bronze and tin artefacts from other sites (Fig. 280: a) and to tin ores from the Erzgebirge and Great Britain (Fig. 280: b). One ring is made of tin, which is consistent with tin in bronzes of the Únětice culture, while the other ring appears to have resorted to another tin base. Nevertheless, the sources for both objects could well have been situated in the deposits of the Erzgebirge, even if unequivocal determination of the origin is presently not possible. For more information, see Chapter 13.2.

Der Aufbruch zu neuen Horizonten: Neue Sichtweisen zur europäischen Frühbronzezeit. Abschlusstagung der Forschergruppe FOR550 vom 26. bis 29. November 2010 in Halle (Saale), ed. by H. Meller and F. Bertemes; Tagungen des Landesmuseums für Vorgschichte Halle 19, pp. 33-53, 2019

As scientific sub-project of research unit FOR550, module NW1 addressed the aesthetic factors of ... more As scientific sub-project of research unit FOR550, module NW1 addressed the aesthetic factors of Bronze Age metal objects and their ornamentation. In addition to widely distributed decorative techniques like chasing and engraving, less frequently occurring techniques were also examined in detail. On the basis of the Nebra Sky Disc and its associated finds from the hoard, the aspects of damascening and artificial corrosion (patina) were for the first time ever discussed in sufficient depth. Research on a large part of inlaid Bronze Age artefacts as well as experiments provided new insights into the practice of metal inlaying (damascening) and its temporal and spatial development in Europe north of the Alps. Corrosion experiments with urine impressively showed how colour contrasts of damascened objects could easily be increased by creating polychrome corrosion layers. Furthermore, typical Bronze Age metal alloys were classified by hardness and colour to obtain clues as to why they were used. The contribution ends with the investigations of arsenic-rich surface layers on arsenical copper artefacts and their possible intentional creation.

Herm, C., Merkel, S., Schreiner, M., Wiesinger, R., Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2019: Jahrestagung an der Akademie der Bildenden Künste Wien, Institut für Naturwissenschaften und Technologie in der Kunst, 11.-14. September 2019, Metalla, Sonderheft 9, Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum, 192-195, 2019

Die Herkunft des Zinns der Bronzezeit ist seit langem eines der größten Rätsel der archäologische... more Die Herkunft des Zinns der Bronzezeit ist seit langem eines der größten Rätsel der archäologischen Forschung. Obwohl das Metall in Form von Bronze bereits im späten 4. und dem 3. Jt. in Anatolien, der Ägäis und dem Nahen Osten in Erscheinung tritt, liegen die Bezugsquellen dafür praktisch noch immer im Dunkeln. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass im Gebiet der ersten Zinnbronzen keine ergiebigen Zinnvorkommen existieren. Außerdem gab es bis vor kurzem keine analytischen Mittel, der Herkunft des Zinns gezielt nachzuspüren. Archäologische Evidenzen für die Ausbeutung von Zinnressourcen sowie Textdokumente aus dem 2. Jt. waren daher die einzigen greifbaren Anhaltspunkte, auf Basis derer die Forschung davon ausgeht, dass das bronzezeitliche Zinn des östlichen Mittelmeerraums und des Vorderen Orients zuvorderst aus Afghanistan stammt. Aber auch die Bergwerke nahe der türki-schen Ortschaften Kestel und Hisarcık sowie des iranischen Deh Hosein werden immer wieder als mögliche Quellen genannt. Teilweise werden sogar die fernen Zinnressourcen in Usbekistan, Tadschi-kistan oder Kasachstan angeführt (zusammenfassender Forschungsstand von Pigott in Druck). Untersuchungen im Rahmen des vom ERC finanzierten Projektes "BronzeAgeTin" liefern nun erste analytische Hinweise darauf, dass das Zinn der Spätbronzezeit (ca. 1300-1200 v. Chr.) im östlichen Mittelmeerraum-zumindest teilweise-nicht aus Asien, sondern aus europäischen Lagerstätten stammt (Berger et al. 2019). Dazu wurden insgesamt 38 Zinnbarren von unterschiedlichen Fundstellen in Israel (Hishuley Carmel, Kfar Samir, Haifa), Griechenland (Mochlos, Kreta; 16. Jh. v. Chr.), der Türkei (Schiffswrack von Uluburun) und zum Vergleich in Großbritannien (Salcombe) auf ihre Zinn-und Bleiiso-topenverhältnisse (MC-ICP-MS) sowie Spurenelementmuster ((LA-)Q-ICP-MS) hin untersucht. Ein-schränkungen diesbezüglich ergaben sich vor allem bei den Barren von Uluburun und Mochlos, bei denen das Zinn fast vollständig korrodiert war. Hier war von Vornherein mit einer geringeren Aussagkraft der Analyseergebnisse zu rechnen. Die übrigen Artefakte waren jedoch durchweg metallisch, und so ist davon auszugehen, dass die in Abbildung 1a erkennbare lineare Korrelation in den 206 Pb/204 Pb-und 207 Pb/204 Pb-Verhältnissen nicht von einer Kontamination durch die Lagerung der Barren im Meer herrührt...

PLoS ONE, Jun 26, 2019

The origin of the tin used for the production of bronze in the Eurasian Bronze Age is still one o... more The origin of the tin used for the production of bronze in the Eurasian Bronze Age is still one of the mysteries in prehistoric archaeology. In the past, numerous studies were carried out on archaeological bronze and tin objects with the aim of determining the sources of tin, but all failed to find suitable fingerprints. In this paper we investigate a set of 27 tin ingots from well-known sites in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Mochlos, Uluburun, Hishuley Carmel, Kfar Samir south, Haifa) that had been the subject of previous archaeological and archaeometal-lurgical research. By using a combined approach of tin and lead isotopes together with trace elements it is possible to narrow down the potential sources of tin for the first time. The strongly radiogenic composition of lead in the tin ingots from Israel allows the calculation of a geological model age of the parental tin ores of 291 ± 17 Ma. This theoretical formation age excludes Anatolian, central Asian and Egyptian tin deposits as tin sources since they formed either much earlier or later. On the other hand, European tin deposits of the Variscan orogeny agree well with this time span so that an origin from European deposits is suggested. With the help of the tin isotope composition and the trace elements of the objects it is further possible to exclude many tin resources from the European continent and, considering the current state of knowledge and the available data, to conclude that Cornish tin mines are the most likely suppliers for the 13 th-12 th centuries tin ingots from Israel. Even though a different prov-enance seems to be suggested for the tin from Mochlos and Uluburun by the actual data, these findings are of great importance for the archaeological interpretation of the trade routes and the circulation of tin during the Late Bronze Age. They demonstrate that the trade networks between the eastern Mediterranean and some place in the east that are assumed for the first half of the 2 nd millennium BCE (as indicated by textual evidence from Kü ltepe/Kaneš and Mari) did not exist in the same way towards the last quarter of the millennium.

Über den Glanz des Goldes und die Polychromie: Technische Vielfalt und kulturelle Bedeutung vor- und frühgeschichtlicher Metallarbeiten Akten des 2. und. 3. Workshops des Netzwerks Archäologisch-Historisches Metallhandwerk in Frankfurt am Main, 24.–27.10.2013, und in Berlin, 11.–12.05.2017, Dec 31, 2018

This paper concerns the alleged tinning of two Únětice bracelets from the Early Bronze Age excava... more This paper concerns the alleged tinning of two Únětice bracelets from the Early Bronze Age excavated from a tumulus near Thierschneck in Germany. The objects are investigated non-destructively using a combination of microscopic examination, chemical analysis, and phase analysis. The results are assessed in terms of different tinning methods known in prehistory. Ultimately, the silvery-grey surfaces on the bracelets are interpreted as the consequence of inverse segregation that occurred during the casting of high-alloyed tin bronzes. Whether this casting effect was an accidental event or produced intentionally is discussed in the context of other Únětice metal artefacts.

Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2018: 20.-24. März 2018, DESY, Hamburg, Deutschland (ed. L. Glaser), 2018

Die Schwerter vom Typ „Apa“ werden als die ältesten frühbronzezeitlichen Schwerter Europas angese... more Die Schwerter vom Typ „Apa“ werden als die ältesten frühbronzezeitlichen Schwerter Europas angesehen. Sie haben eine weite Verbreitung vom nördlichen Karpatenbecken (Rumänien, Ungarn), über Mitteleuropa bis nach Skandinavien, was auf ein weitreichendes Austauschnetz in der frühen und der beginnenden mittleren Bronzezeit hindeutet. Ihr Ursprungsgebiet wird im Karpatenbecken vermutet, von wo aus sie als Exportstücke in die anderen Regionen gelangten. Es gibt jedoch auch lokale Imitationen außerhalb des Karpatenbeckens und es ist strittig, in welcher Beziehung ähnliche Schwertypen, wie der Typ „Valsømågle“, zu ihnen stehen. Die Schwerter von Typ „Apa“ haben gemeinsame typologische Eigenschaften; dennoch repräsentiert jedes Bronzeobjekt ein Unikat, da die Verzierung von Stück zu Stück unterschiedlich ist und auch die Formen der Klingen und Griffe variieren. Das absolute Alter dieser und nahestehender Artefakte liegt zwischen 1700 und 1500 v. Chr. und fällt damit in eine Zeit, in der in einer Reihe von europäischen Regionen bedeutende Veränderungen in der materiellen Kultur stattfanden. Daher ist es interessant zu untersuchen, ob die Zusammensetzung der Zinnbronze-Legierungen den typologischen Zusammenhang bestätigt oder ob unterschiedliche Werkstoffe zur Herstellung der einzelnen Objekte verwendet wurden.

BRONZE AGE TIN is a multidisciplinary project funded by the European Research Council comprising ... more BRONZE AGE TIN is a multidisciplinary project funded by the European Research Council comprising archaeology, history, geochemistry, and geology, conducted by scientists from the University of Heidelberg and the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie in Mannheim. The objective is to decipher the enigma of the origin of tin in the early bronzes by combining new archeological data and tin isotope ratios. These bronzes appear in a wide area stretching from the Aegean to the Persian Gulf, but this region is geologically devoid of any tin deposits.

The results of this research will be presented and discussed during four half-day sessions on geology and ore deposits, metallurgy and archaeology. In addition, there will be a welcome meeting on Wednesday evening, 14 March, a symposium dinner on Friday evening, 16 March, and the option for a tour through the Old City of Heidelberg on Saturday, 17 March 2018.

There will be only invited talks, but anyone interested is invited to participate the conference. Use the provided link for downloading the workshop programme and the registration form:

http://www.cez-archaeometrie.de/?p=1528

$Research paper thumbnail of Tin isotope fractionation during cassiterite smelting and its implication for tracing the tin sources of the Bronze Age$

Von Juli bis Oktober 1997 fand im Auftrag des Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachs... more Von Juli bis Oktober 1997 fand im Auftrag des Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt die Ausgrabung eines ca. 200 m² großen Geländes an der Bürgermeisterstraße 5 in Wittenberg statt. Besonders die dabei gefundenen Bleilettern (Typen) weckten das wissenschaftliche Interesse, da solche Zeugen des Buchdrucks zu den selteneren Bodenfunden gehören. Über 500 Drucktypen wurden innerhalb einer Latrine entdeckt, die anhand der Beifunde in das 16. Jahrhundert datiert. Damit war zumindest die begründete Hoffnung gegeben, einen Zusammenhang der Lettern mit der von Wittenberg ausgehenden Reformation herstellen zu können.
Neben der Datierung der Bleilettern anhand der Beifunde kann eine zeitliche Einordnung auch anhand typographischer Aspekte, etwa der Schriftart, besonders aber der Schriftausführung erfolgen. Unter den insgesamt 465 bestimmbaren Lettern fanden sich mit Antiqua, Fraktur und Schwabacher drei verschiedene Schriften. Bei erstgenannter gibt es neben den Lettern einer geradstehenden auch solche für eine kursive Form sowie eine Variante mit Kapitälchen. Dem Umfang im Letternkomplex nach zu urteilen dürfte die kursive Variante die Hauptschrift der Druckerei gewesen sein, deren typographische Merkmale sowie die an den anderen Schriften die Datierung der Bleilettern in das 16. bzw. frühe 17. Jh. stützen.
Eine weitere Datierungsmöglichkeit des Fundkomplexes bietet die sog. Graphemik. Hierbei handelt es sich um einen Bereich der Altgermanistik, in der man das Schriftsystem untersucht. Eine Datierung der Lettern allein aus dem Blickwinkel der Graphemik vorzunehmen, wäre sehr vage, da nur einzelne Buchstaben und Satzzeichen vorliegen. Erst gemeinsam mit der archäologischen und typographischen Betrachtung ergibt sich eine relativ sichere zeitliche Einordnung der Lettern. So sind beim Übergang vom Frühneuhochdeutschen (1350 – 1650) zum Neuhochdeutschen (ab 1650) graphemische Entwicklungen zu beobachten, welche beispielsweise die Großschreibung oder die Interpunktion und Kürzelzeichen betreffen. Auch Satz- und Sonderzeichen wie die Virgel (/), das Komma (,), das Fragezeichen oder die et-Ligatur (&), von denen mehrere als Lettern im Komplex erhalten blieben, können zur Datierung herangezogen werden. Das Fragezeichen ist z. B. zwar von Beginn des Frühneuhochdeutschen an bekannt, findet jedoch erst seit dem 16. Jahrhundert häufigere Verwendung. Damit und mit weiteren Aspekten wird ebenfalls eine Zeitstellung der Lettern in das 16./17. Jh. nahegelegt.
Ergänzend zur typografischen und graphemischen Betrachtung wurden die Lettern materialkundlich untersucht. Dazu konnten an 16 Typen Metallanalysen durchgeführt werden, die durchweg quartäre Legierungen aus Blei, Antimon, Zinn und Bismut erbrachten. Möglicherweise wurde dem Metall sogar noch Kupfer zugesetzt. Besonders hervorzuheben ist die Anwesenheit von Bismut, das zum ersten Mal an Lettern nachgewiesen werden konnte. Zuvor war seine Verwendung nicht durch Realien (z. B. Lettern aus Mainz) belegt, sondern nur aus zeitgenössischen Schriften wie Agricolas De natura fossilium bekannt. Vermutlich besteht hier ein Zusammenhang mit den nahegelegenen Bismutgruben im Erzgebirge und es scheint möglich, dass die Erfindung des Letternmetalls mit Bismut von Wittenberg ausgeht.
Die Legierungszusammensetzungen sind unterdessen recht uneinheitlich, dennoch lässt sich die Verwendung bevorzugter Mischungsverhältnisse nachvollziehen, die sich z. T. auch an anderen, unweit auf dem Arsenalplatz in Wittenberg gefunden Bleilettern wiederfinden lassen. Höchstwahrscheinlich lässt sich in den Legierungen eine Herstellung der Typen durch unterschiedliche Schriftgießer fassen, wobei offen bleiben muss, ob dies in einer oder in mehreren Gießereien erfolgte. Da die Typen stark schwankende Signaturhöhen aufweisen, könnte durchaus ein Hinweis auf unterschiedliche Schriftgießereien gegeben sein, zumal die Signaturen ansonsten deutlich einheitlicher wären. Möglicherweise äußert sich hierin aber auch ein chronologisches Kriterium, wonach die Lettern unterschiedlicher Zeitstellung sein könnten. Zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt bleiben die Aussagen jedoch noch beschränkt, da die Untersuchungen (auch an anderen Lettern) andauern.

Im Fokus des Vortrages stehen die beiden Verzierungstechniken Tauschierung und Patinierung, die i... more Im Fokus des Vortrages stehen die beiden Verzierungstechniken Tauschierung und Patinierung, die innerhalb eines bronzezeitlichen Gesamtrahmens und vor dem Hintergrund des Gebietes nördlich der Alpen behandelt werden. Hierbei wird einerseits durch archäometallurgische Methoden untersucht, wie und womit Tauschierungen (Metalleinlagen) an Bronzegegenständen technisch umgesetzt wurden und ob sich aus den gemachten Beobachtungen Aussagen bezüglich der Herkunft der seltenen Ziertechnik ableiten lassen. Andererseits zielt der Vortrag darauf ab, spezielle Methoden auszuloten, mit denen tauschierte Artefakte in der Bronzezeit zum Zweck der Kontraststeigerung patiniert, d. h. künstlich korrodiert worden sein könnten. Diesem Aspekt wird durch Korrosionsversuche im Labormaßstab sowie mit einer Reihe von analytischen Methoden gezielt nachgegangen.

Xose-Lois Armada, Mercedes Murillo-Barroso and Mike Charlton (eds)., Metals, minds and mobility. Integrating scientific data with archaeological theory (Oxford 2018)., Oct 2018

more information on https://www.archaeometrie-kolleg.de/en/bootcamp-autumn-2020, 2020

Archaeometry is indispensable when it comes to answering cultural-historical questions and solvin... more Archaeometry is indispensable when it comes to answering cultural-historical questions and solving historical puzzles. Its contribution is fundamental, whether in dating and age determination, in determining the origin or in authenticity checks, or in clarifying technological or cognitive development. Archaeometry does all this and much more.

We provide an overview of archaeometry. Short and crisp. That's boot camp.

more information on https://www.archaeometrie-kolleg.de/en/workshop-autumn-2020, 2020

Each of the historic discipline has developed a chronological framework by its own concept. Howev... more Each of the historic discipline has developed a chronological framework by its own concept. However, there remain uncertainties whose extent may differ depending on the period considered or the region and the context. Many events or finds cannot be dated at all or only on a relative scale by such approaches. Accordingly, science-based chronometric methods have become more important during the last decades. These methods are generally based on physics or chemistry with which graduates of cultural study programs are not familiar although their applications have become common in their professional life. This workshop will provide insights for non-specialists into the basic principles and practical applications of different physical dating methods.

Program of the interdisciplinary conference "Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2023" from March 28 t... more Program of the interdisciplinary conference "Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege 2023" from March 28 to 31 in Mannheim