Barbara Armbruster | Université Toulouse II Jean Jaurès (original) (raw)
Papers by Barbara Armbruster
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2019
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 12, 2022
Penn State University Press eBooks, Mar 18, 2014
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Sep 8, 2021
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 13, 2021
Situating Eurasia in Antiquity: Nomadic Material Culture in the First Millennium BCE, 2024
This article explores the extraordinarily rich gold finds from the Early Scythian princely tomb A... more This article explores the extraordinarily rich gold finds from the Early Scythian princely tomb Arzhan 2 in the Republic of Tuva, southern Siberia (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE), through the methodological framework of the chaîne opératoire (operational sequence), in order to reconstruct the objects’ processes of manufacture. Through an interdisciplinary study of the finds at the State Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, the principal author analyzed tool marks and surface morphologies, which allow for the comprehensive identification and documentation of the numerous techniques employed in the creation of the often very elaborate jewelry, decorated weapons, and other personal ornaments. The production of both individual pieces and extensive series of thousands of identical trimmings attests to the existence of complex craft processes and workshop organizations. The technological aspects of the gold finds impress through their diversity and outstanding quality, both artistically and in terms of their craftsmanship. As this article will demonstrate, the objects present the earliest evidence for a highly specialized goldsmith artform in southern Siberia.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 12, 2022
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Sep 5, 2018
Vannes : Service départemental d'archéologie du Morbihan, Feb 6, 2020
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Mar 11, 2015
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2012
International audienc
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Jun 26, 2016
International audienc
This paper deals with goldworking technology, more precisely with the manufacturing processes and... more This paper deals with goldworking technology, more precisely with the manufacturing processes and tools used in Atlantic Europe during the Copper Age and the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the technological aspects of early fine metalworking crafts. Along with copper, gold was one of the first metals used by early metallurgists. Atlantic Europe is rich in gold artefacts attesting to the use of particular types of ornaments, from southern Portugal up to the north of Scotland. Precious metal objects are valuable goods with symbolic meaning used in rituals as well as in funerary contexts. They also had an important social function for gift exchange between elites and for demonstration of power. Gold artefacts can indicate cultural contact leading to the exchange of technological and artistic knowhow. One purpose of this paper is to investigate the traces of exchange and circulation processes in the archaeological record so as to be able to reconstruct the goldworking craftsmanship of the past. The second purpose is to present an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis and definition of the early art of goldworking. Finally, the role of metal technology in tradition, innovation, contact and cultural change for understanding of early metal-using societies will be discussed
Materials and Manufacturing Processes, 2016
ABSTRACT The gold work from the Western European Middle and Late Bronze Age (about 1500–700 BC) i... more ABSTRACT The gold work from the Western European Middle and Late Bronze Age (about 1500–700 BC) is characterized by solid ornaments and vessels. This article deals with manufacturing techniques of heavy gold jewelry by presenting a gold hoard found at Guînes, Pas-de-Calais, in Northern France, as a case study. In particular, three ornament types will be taken into consideration: (1) solid penannular neck and arm-rings, plain or with linear or geometric decoration; (2) flange-twisted ornaments that appear in different dimensions, as small as ear rings, as neck rings, up to the large size of a belt; (3) complex, composite ornaments. The technological aspects dealt with in this precious metal working context are manifold, including ingot and lost wax casting, hammering and bending of solid rods, the production of flange-twisted rods, chasing as decoration method, and finally joining techniques such as soldering, riveting and folding, and creasing.
Prehistoric Gold in Europe, 1995
This paper deals with the study of ancient gold jewellery manufacture, in particular the presenta... more This paper deals with the study of ancient gold jewellery manufacture, in particular the presentation of details of the lost-wax casting method. The aim is to illustrate the use of rotary tools, such as lathe and drill, in connection with the manufacture of rings. The types of materials and tools used in these processes are discussed. This new technological information was obtained by optical examination of bracelets and finger-rings of the Late Bronze Age Villena/Estremoz types. A combination of the identification of tool marks, experimental archaeology, analogies from ethnoarchaeology, ancient illustrations and literary descriptions leads to the conclusion that rotary tools were used. An interdisciplinary approach to assess the value of experiments and technological studies for the classification of metal artifacts is proposed.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2019
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 12, 2022
Penn State University Press eBooks, Mar 18, 2014
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Sep 8, 2021
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 13, 2021
Situating Eurasia in Antiquity: Nomadic Material Culture in the First Millennium BCE, 2024
This article explores the extraordinarily rich gold finds from the Early Scythian princely tomb A... more This article explores the extraordinarily rich gold finds from the Early Scythian princely tomb Arzhan 2 in the Republic of Tuva, southern Siberia (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE), through the methodological framework of the chaîne opératoire (operational sequence), in order to reconstruct the objects’ processes of manufacture. Through an interdisciplinary study of the finds at the State Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, the principal author analyzed tool marks and surface morphologies, which allow for the comprehensive identification and documentation of the numerous techniques employed in the creation of the often very elaborate jewelry, decorated weapons, and other personal ornaments. The production of both individual pieces and extensive series of thousands of identical trimmings attests to the existence of complex craft processes and workshop organizations. The technological aspects of the gold finds impress through their diversity and outstanding quality, both artistically and in terms of their craftsmanship. As this article will demonstrate, the objects present the earliest evidence for a highly specialized goldsmith artform in southern Siberia.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 12, 2022
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Sep 5, 2018
Vannes : Service départemental d'archéologie du Morbihan, Feb 6, 2020
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Mar 11, 2015
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2012
International audienc
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Jun 26, 2016
International audienc
This paper deals with goldworking technology, more precisely with the manufacturing processes and... more This paper deals with goldworking technology, more precisely with the manufacturing processes and tools used in Atlantic Europe during the Copper Age and the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the technological aspects of early fine metalworking crafts. Along with copper, gold was one of the first metals used by early metallurgists. Atlantic Europe is rich in gold artefacts attesting to the use of particular types of ornaments, from southern Portugal up to the north of Scotland. Precious metal objects are valuable goods with symbolic meaning used in rituals as well as in funerary contexts. They also had an important social function for gift exchange between elites and for demonstration of power. Gold artefacts can indicate cultural contact leading to the exchange of technological and artistic knowhow. One purpose of this paper is to investigate the traces of exchange and circulation processes in the archaeological record so as to be able to reconstruct the goldworking craftsmanship of the past. The second purpose is to present an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis and definition of the early art of goldworking. Finally, the role of metal technology in tradition, innovation, contact and cultural change for understanding of early metal-using societies will be discussed
Materials and Manufacturing Processes, 2016
ABSTRACT The gold work from the Western European Middle and Late Bronze Age (about 1500–700 BC) i... more ABSTRACT The gold work from the Western European Middle and Late Bronze Age (about 1500–700 BC) is characterized by solid ornaments and vessels. This article deals with manufacturing techniques of heavy gold jewelry by presenting a gold hoard found at Guînes, Pas-de-Calais, in Northern France, as a case study. In particular, three ornament types will be taken into consideration: (1) solid penannular neck and arm-rings, plain or with linear or geometric decoration; (2) flange-twisted ornaments that appear in different dimensions, as small as ear rings, as neck rings, up to the large size of a belt; (3) complex, composite ornaments. The technological aspects dealt with in this precious metal working context are manifold, including ingot and lost wax casting, hammering and bending of solid rods, the production of flange-twisted rods, chasing as decoration method, and finally joining techniques such as soldering, riveting and folding, and creasing.
Prehistoric Gold in Europe, 1995
This paper deals with the study of ancient gold jewellery manufacture, in particular the presenta... more This paper deals with the study of ancient gold jewellery manufacture, in particular the presentation of details of the lost-wax casting method. The aim is to illustrate the use of rotary tools, such as lathe and drill, in connection with the manufacture of rings. The types of materials and tools used in these processes are discussed. This new technological information was obtained by optical examination of bracelets and finger-rings of the Late Bronze Age Villena/Estremoz types. A combination of the identification of tool marks, experimental archaeology, analogies from ethnoarchaeology, ancient illustrations and literary descriptions leads to the conclusion that rotary tools were used. An interdisciplinary approach to assess the value of experiments and technological studies for the classification of metal artifacts is proposed.
Mª. P. Prieto and L. Salanova (Eds.), The Bell Beaker transition in Europe: Mobility and local evolution during the 3rd millenium BC, 2015
This paper deals with goldworking technology, more precisely with the manufacturing processes and... more This paper deals with goldworking technology, more precisely with the manufacturing processes and tools used in Atlantic Europe during the Copper Age and the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. It takes an interdisciplinary
approach to the study of the technological aspects of early fine metalworking crafts.
Along with copper, gold was one of the first metals used by early metallurgists. Atlantic Europe is rich in gold artefacts attesting to the use of particular types of ornaments, from southern Portugal up to the north of Scotland. Precious metal objects are valuable goods with symbolic meaning used in rituals as well as in funerary contexts. They also had an important social function for gift exchange between elites and for demonstration of power. Gold artefacts can indicate cultural contact leading to the exchange of technological and artistic knowhow.
One purpose of this paper is to investigate the traces of exchange and circulation processes in the
archaeological record so as to be able to reconstruct the goldworking craftsmanship of the past.
The second purpose is to present an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis and definition of the early art of goldworking. Finally, the role of metal technology in tradition, innovation, contact and cultural change for understanding of early metal-using societies will be discussed.
Luxury objects are an important part of European Iron Age material culture. This is reflected in ... more Luxury objects are an important part of European Iron Age material culture. This is reflected in personal ornaments, decorated weapons, vessels, wagons and furniture, etc. This session deals with materials such as gold, silver, bronze, enamel, and glass as well as organic materials, such as ivory, coral, amber, and jet. These luxury materials played an important role in social, religious, economic and artistic terms that we would like to discuss. Our session offers the opportunity to compare the trade and exchange systems of different precious materials in diverse parts of Europe. As different as the materials are, as unequal is their value. Hence, different raw materials have been accessible for different social groups; this is why the distribution patterns of different raw materials allow us to establish a more detailed reconstruction of the economic systems during a certain period and to trace the chronological dynamics in this context. Moreover, since raw materials are always closely interrelated with networks of production and consumption, their distribution patterns and dynamics enable profound insights into the circulation of the ideas and people behind the materials. Our aim is to bring together research dealing with different aspects of these prestigious materials and objects combining social anthropology, archaeological context, style, arts and crafts, technology and archaeometry. Therefore, we invite contributions concerned with interdisciplinary approaches to precious materials and fine metal work. We kindly invite you to submit your abstract for the session at
TRADITION, INNOVATION AND NETWORKS - METAL WORKING AROUND THE BALTIC SEA FROM THE BRONZE AGE TO T... more TRADITION, INNOVATION AND NETWORKS - METAL WORKING AROUND THE BALTIC SEA FROM THE BRONZE AGE TO THE MIDDLE AGES
From the rock carvings depicting ships in the Scandinavian Bronze Age to the age of the Hanseatic League and its mighty cargo ships, the Baltic Sea has always played an important role as a travel zone, facilitating interregional contacts and dissemination of cultural and technological knowledge. The study of metallurgical practices is indicative of the spread of innovation and the movement of craftsmen, and therefore not only shows the movement of goods but also the transfer of new ideas and the dissemination of people. Prehistoric and medieval production of metals in the Baltic Sea region demonstrates both shared practices and discrete traditions, making it central for our understanding of cultural relations and networks within this area.
This session aims to bring together archaeologists and archaeometallurgists exploring the traditions, continuity, and developments of metal crafts through external influences and innovation from the Bronze Age to the medieval period around the Baltic Sea. The focus will be on the history of technology and traditions of metal production, including aspects of metal working techniques, utilization of tools, and the layout and “chaine operatoire” of workshops. The interdisciplinary nature of the session will encourage discussions between cultural-historical approaches, experimental and archaeometric studies, to enrich our understanding of technological practices and to explore how metals, technologies and traditions were spread and shared within the region.
by Eric Néré, Association APRAB, isabelle kerouanton, Valérie Audé, Barbara Armbruster, Veber Cecile, Michler Matthieu, Muriel Mélin, Régis Issenmann, julien boisson, Brendan O'Connor, and Mafalda Roscio
Cette journée d'étude sera consacrée aux approches expérimentales en lien avec les arts du feu. E... more Cette journée d'étude sera consacrée aux approches expérimentales en lien avec les arts du feu. Elle a pour objectif de présenter différents travaux dont la démarche consiste à mettre en perspective l'étude des objets archéologiques avec l'artisanat du métal, du verre ou de la céramique.
Gold from the Western Hallstatt zone, including eastern and central France, southwest Germany and... more Gold from the Western Hallstatt zone, including eastern and central France, southwest Germany and Switzerland, was included in several detailed regional Iron Age studies in the past; however, research was rarely focussed on the specific gold material itself and no systematic inventory or database existed. Since A. Hartmann’s pioneering studies on the chemical composition of prehistoric gold objects, which he conducted between 1960 to 1985 and some individual investigations into their production technology or composition, no large scale systematic scientific investigation on gold from the West Hallstatt period has been conducted.
Armbruster Barbara, Goldschmiedekunst und Bronzetechnik Studien zum Metallhandwerk der Atlantisch... more Armbruster Barbara, Goldschmiedekunst und Bronzetechnik Studien zum Metallhandwerk der Atlantischen Bronzezeit auf der Iberischen Halbinsel. Monographies instrumentum 15. Edition Monique Mergoil. Montagnac 2000.
Catalogue de l'exposition au Musée de La Cour-d'or de Metz, du 22 mai au 15 septembre 2019.
Social stratification in prehistoric societies has long been a major research topic. Especially t... more Social stratification in prehistoric societies has long been a major research topic. Especially the beginning of the Bronze Age world with a rapidly increasing hierarchization was and still is the focus of many of archaeological studies. Much research has been done in finding traces and evidences for the existence of the first state-like organisations in Central Europe. Most obviously the so-called princely graves of the Únětice culture represent people that gathered and inherited a lot of power and wealth. But those narratives of chiefdoms and early state societies portray only one of the possibilities within the diverse Early Bronze Age landscape and its different social structures. The task is to identify hierarchical structures also in those regions or contemporary societies without clearly visible archaeological signs of chieftains or other highly stratified systems.
The session will concentrate on the Early Bronze Age (2200–1650 BC) roughly between the alpine lake dwellings, the southern alpine villages, the Únětice culture and the Tell building societies of the Carpathian Basin. One major focus is gaining knowledge about social stratification from a combined investigation of settlement structures (centralization, fortification, large-scale food storage etc.), burial practices and hoard find patterns to identify different types of hierarchies. New scientific methods (aDNA, isotope analyses, metal analyses etc.) can help to uncover so far hidden social patterns by adding more information about kinship, mobility and trade management and can thus explain the emergence, maintenance and extension of hierarchical structures.
9 et 10 octobre 2019 - Toulouse (Université Jean Jaurès) Par des regards croisés sur les métaux a... more 9 et 10 octobre 2019 - Toulouse (Université Jean Jaurès)
Par des regards croisés sur les métaux anciens, l'archéométallurgie combine sciences des matériaux, approche technologique et étude archéologique. Comme son nom l'indique, cette journée d'étude a pour objectif de faire dialoguer les différents spécialistes de la métallurgie ancienne. Pour réellement comprendre les objets archéologiques, il est en effet nécessaire de les replacer non seulement dans une chaîne opératoire qui est complexe, depuis l'approvisionnement en matières premières jusqu'à leur abandon, mais aussi dans un environnement humain. Si les archéomètres se concentrent essentiellement sur l'approvisionnement en matières premières, sur la nature et les propriétés des archéomatériaux métalliques, les archéologues se chargent de replacer les artefacts dans leur contexte socio-économique et symbolique. L'étude technologique se positionne comme une charnière entre ces disciplines, révélant les savoir-faire des artisans/artistes. Les intervenants de ces différentes disciplines peinent parfois à échanger du fait de méthodes, de formations et d'interrogations différentes. C'est pourquoi les méthodes et approches des uns et des autres doivent nécessairement être combinées afin de progresser. Par cette transversalité, l'origine, les contraintes et l'histoire des matériaux peuvent être restitués tout autant que certains mécanismes socio-économiques, techniques et culturels des sociétés anciennes, point d'entrée fondamental pour aborder des questions concernant par exemple les choix des matériaux, les recettes des alliages, les modes de production ou encore les ruptures et continuités dans les réseaux d'approvisionnement et d'échanges. C'est pourquoi nous souhaitons mettre en avant toute la pertinence de cette démarche interdisciplinaire, à travers la présentation de quelques dossiers qui doivent permettre à des spécialistes de l'archéométallurgie de dialoguer autour de problématiques et de démarches scientifiques communes. Une précédente journée d'étude, co-organisée autour d'une approche comparable, avait porté sur le fer. Cette fois-ci, le propos sera centré sur les métaux non-ferreux : or, cuivre et alliages cuivreux, plomb. Ces dialogues prendront la forme d'études de cas présentées au moins à deux voix et auront pour objectif de faire le point sur un panel de questions : que pouvons-nous à ce jour faire dire à un objet en métal étudié tout à la fois dans son contexte archéologique et en laboratoire ? Quelles peuvent-être les attentes des archéologues et des archéomètres lorsqu'ils mettent en commun leurs compétences ? Quels résultats obtient-on d'un tel dialogue ? Cette manifestation scientifique sera résolument placée sous le signe de l'interdisciplinarité, terme trop souvent galvaudé qu'il s'agira ici de réhabiliter.
25th annual meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists, Bern, 2019
Social stratification in prehistoric societies has long been a major research topic. Especially t... more Social stratification in prehistoric societies has long been a major research topic. Especially the beginning of the Bronze Age world with a rapidly increasing hierarchization was and still is the focus of many of archaeological studies. Much research has been done in finding traces and evidences for the existence of the first state-like organisations in Central Europe. Most obviously the so-called princely graves of the Únětice culture represent people that gathered and inherited a lot of power and wealth. But those narratives of chiefdoms and early state societies portray only one of the possibilities within the diverse Early Bronze Age landscape and its different social structures. The task is to identify hierarchical structures also in those regions or contemporary societies without clearly visible archaeological signs of chieftains or other highly stratified systems.
The session will concentrate on the Early Bronze Age (2200–1650 BC) roughly between the alpine lake dwellings, the southern alpine villages, the Únětice culture and the Tell building societies of the Carpathian Basin. One major focus is gaining knowledge about social stratification from a combined investigation of settlement structures (centralization, fortification, large-scale food storage etc.), burial practices and hoard find patterns to identify different types of hierarchies. New scientific methods (aDNA, isotope analyses, metal analyses etc.) can help to uncover so far hidden social patterns by adding more information about kinship, mobility and trade management and can thus explain the emergence, maintenance and extension of hierarchical structures.
Call for papers: Please submit your abstract at https://submissions.e-a-a.org/eaa2019/. The submission deadline is 14 February 2019.
Nordez M., Armbruster B., Blet-Lemarquand M. (2020) - Nordez M., Armbruster B., Blet-Lemarquand M. (2020) - Le brassard et l’anneau en or du Second âge du Fer de Sin-le-Noble « Le Raquet » (Nord), Celtic Gold, Rapport d'étude et d'analyse CG-03, 10 p., 2020
CELTIC GOLD est un programme franco-allemand de trois ans débuté fin 2017, pleinement interdiscip... more CELTIC GOLD est un programme franco-allemand de trois ans débuté fin 2017, pleinement interdisciplinaire, international et interinstitutionnel (CNRS, universités, centres de recherche, laboratoires d’archéométrie, musées, instituts archéologiques...). Dirigé par B. Armbruster et R. Schwab, il est cofinancé par l’ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche) et la DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), et hébergé par le laboratoire TRACES (Toulouse) et le CEZ Archäometrie (Mannheim). À travers l’étude des productions et de la consommation des objets en or du second âge du Fer provenant de France, d’Allemagne, de Suisse et du Bénélux, le projet CELTIC GOLD vise à renouveler l’appréhension de la culture laténienne occidentale (milieu Ve-Ier siècle avant notre ère) dans ses dimensions économique, sociale, technologique et artistique. Sa cohérence réside notamment dans l’étroite collaboration internationale et interdisciplinaire entre partenaires scientifiques allemands et français. Nos compétences réunies permettent de combiner activement l’expertise en archéologie, en art celtique, en technologie et en sciences des matériaux, de manière à restituer l’ensemble de la chaîne opératoire, de l’approvisionnement en matières premières à l’abandon des objets. Pour en savoir plus, RDV sur le carnet de recherche du projet https://celticgold.hypotheses.org/
Nordez M., Armbruster B., Blet-Lemarquand M. (2020) - Le brassard et l’anneau en or du Second âge du Fer de Sin-le-Noble « Le Raquet » (Nord), Celtic Gold, Rapport d'étude et d'analyse CG-02, 13 p., 2020
CELTIC GOLD est un programme franco-allemand de trois ans débuté fin 2017, pleinement interdiscip... more CELTIC GOLD est un programme franco-allemand de trois ans débuté fin 2017, pleinement interdisciplinaire, international et interinstitutionnel (CNRS, universités, centres de recherche, laboratoires d’archéométrie, musées, instituts archéologiques...). Dirigé par B. Armbruster et R. Schwab, il est cofinancé par l’ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche) et la DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), et hébergé par le laboratoire TRACES (Toulouse) et le CEZ Archäometrie (Mannheim). À travers l’étude des productions et de la consommation des objets en or du second âge du Fer provenant de France, d’Allemagne, de Suisse et du Bénélux, le projet CELTIC GOLD vise à renouveler l’appréhension de la culture laténienne occidentale (milieu Ve-Ier siècle avant notre ère) dans ses dimensions économique, sociale, technologique et artistique. Sa cohérence réside notamment dans l’étroite collaboration internationale et interdisciplinaire entre partenaires scientifiques allemands et français. Nos compétences réunies permettent de combiner activement l’expertise en archéologie, en art celtique, en technologie et en sciences des matériaux, de manière à restituer l’ensemble de la chaîne opératoire, de l’approvisionnement en matières premières à l’abandon des objets. Pour en savoir plus, RDV sur le carnet de recherche du projet https://celticgold.hypotheses.org/
