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Slags from copper processing at the Al Salili site, 2000 BC, Sultanate of Oman
Cseryová, Viktória ; Trubač, Jakub (advisor) ; Bursák, Daniel (referee)
Metallurgy in the Arab world has always been famous. Research is currently underway on the territory of Oman, which should reveal more details of the ore deposits that were used for the production of ancient artifacts. This work aims to describe appropriate methods that will allow us to gain insight into the secrets of processing copper deposits at the al-Ṣalaylī site in Oman. This bachelor thesis deals with the overall chemical and mineralogical composition of ancient copper metallurgical slags from the al-Ṣalaylī site in Oman (South-eastern Arabia). These slags can probably be dated in range from the Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age to Middle Islamic Period. This work aimed to characterize collected slag using a combination of optical and scanning electron microscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and electron microanalysis, it has been possible to determine the composition and describe the mineral phases in the slag and to determine the conditions of the prehistoric metallurgical process. The results of analysis indicated that the samples were pieces of tapped slag and furnace slag from a production of copper. Examined slags are mainly composed from Ca-Fe-Mg olivine and clinopyroxene filled with silicate glass and spinel. Copper either occurs as metallic phase with small Cu grains or is...
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Analysis of chemical composition of prehistoric artifacts of copper and copper alloys in Czech lands
Kmošek, Matěj ; Bláhová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Fikrle, Marek (referee)
This work deals with chemical composition analysis of prehistoric artifacts of copper and copper alloys in Czech lands. It purvey listing of individual methods of natural sciences research together with their capabilities and limitations. Development and current state of chemical compostition analysis is described in this work. Focus of this work is a database of results of chemical composition analysis from Czech and foreign laboratories. Data file in the database is evaluated in terms of geography, chronology and type of artifacts.
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Flat-and-lugged axes from the view of metallographer
Hošek, Jiří
Two Hallstatt flat-and-lugged axes (dated to Ha C2 – Ha D1-2) discovered in NW Bohemia have been recently examined by the author. First axe, from Březno u Milešova, was made of piled iron (locally steel) but its cutting edge was treated by carburization and quenching. The second axe, from Nakléřovský průsmyk, apparently reveals the case of steel cutting-edge welding onto an iron axe body. The steeled cutting edge and its tempering evidence advanced tool-making techniques. Both the examined axes belong to the less numerous group of high quality forgings. Nevertheless, regarding all the up to date examined flat-and-lugged axes, hardening of these tools might have been a common practice at the time.
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Sword from a grave 723 in Mikulčice and its metallographical examination
Hošek, Jiří ; Košta, J.
The investigated sword was lifted from the grave No. 723 situated on the acropolis of the Early Medieval stronghold of Mikulčice near by Hodonín. The grave unit was discovered on a small graveyard by the stone foundations of civic palatial building. The sword, which belongs to the Petersen N type, can be dated into the course of last three quarters of the 9th century. The sword blade consists of piled steel core and steel (probably but-) welded-on cutting edges (also composed of two or three mutually welded rods). The blade has been most likely oil-quenched (bainitic structure with hardness of 373+/-40 HV0.3) in the lower part (near by tip), the upper part (near by hilt) remained unquenched and bears unreadable inscription formed of phosphoric iron (ca 1.3 % P). Nickel and arsenic (3.1 % Ni and 1.8 % As in maximum) were found in welds of the blade and copper (ca 4.4 %) in welds of the pommel base.
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Metallographic analyse of knives. Appendix 2
Hošek, Jiří
Knife from Křeslice grave No.3 and very similar knife No. 53.541 from grave VI from Dobřichov –Pičhora were metallographicaly examined in order to evaluate their original construction and quality of used material. Both of them were found very good, originally forged out of steel and at least the blade from Křeslice in addition most likely carburised in the cutting edge. The blade from Dobřichov-Pičhora revealed traces of piling, which could be done in order to homogenize distribution of carbon. In both cases we can underline very low amount of slag inclusions, what witnesses for precise treatment and forging. In any case we cannot describe original heat treatment (if quenched or not), both the knives however ranked among contemporary high quality products, which were usually made of piled steel and/or carburised in their cutting edges.
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Catalogue of metallographic examinations of iron objects from medieval sites
Hošek, Jiří
The article introduces the catalogue, which has been prepared in the Laboratories of conservation CAS Prague and which should help archaeometallurgists and archaeologists gain a basic orientation in the archaeometallurgical research into Bohemian and Moravian medieval iron objects that has been carried out to date. Since a number of such metallographic examinations have already been published it was decided above all to insert sites and objects from the 13th to 15th centuries in the first part of the catalogue. The metallography of objects from the medieval village of Pfaffenschlag is shown here as example of how the single sites are treated there.
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New archaeological finds from Horská Kvilda
Hošek, Jiří ; Kudrnáč, Jaroslav
Several iron objects and pieces of slag, including a 14th to 15th centuries war-knife and horseshoe, were found in an area of medieval gold mines near Horská Kvilda in 2002. The war-knife had a blade of high quality with a butt-welded and quenched cutting edge, the handle was presumably made of horn and a guard piece was lily-shaped. There is no doubt that this weapon belongs among the more precious and decorated pieces and we can assume its relation to a higher social environment. The horseshoe (suitable for front hoofs) wasn’t provided by steel (in order to improve its abrasion resistance) and thus ranks among simple products.
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