Bronze Age crucibles from the Kastro- Palaia settlement, Volos, Greece – a contradiction of form and function?
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Published
Nov 8, 2021
Abstract
We present several crucible fragments from Bronze Age contexts in Volos, Greece, linked to a Late Bronze Age (Mycenaean) palace workshop and its predecessor building. Two of the crucibles have side sockets for manipulation, and all are internally fired. Chemical analyses of metallurgical remains from within the crucibles indicate the range of alloy compositions for which they were used, including arsenical copper and tin bronze. Lead isotope ratio analyses point to multiple sources of copper, as would be expected over the extended time period that these fragments represent.
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References
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Bayley J and Rehren T 2007, ‘Towards a functional and typological classification of crucibles’, in S La Niece, D Hook and P Craddock (eds), Metals and mines. Studies in archaeometallurgy (London), 46–55.
Dungworth D 2000, ‘A note on the analysis of crucibles and moulds’, Historical Metallurgy 34(2), 83–86.
Eccleston M 2008, ‘Metalworking at Amarna: a preliminary report’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 19, 29–47.
Evely D, Hein A and Nodarou E 2012, ‘Crucibles from Palaikastro, East Crete: insights into metallurgical technology in the Aegean Late Bronze Age’, Journal of Archaeological Science 39, 1821–1836.
Gale N, Kayafa M and Stos-Gale Z A 2009, ‘Further evidence for Bronze Age production of copper from ores in the Lavrion ore district, Attica, Greece’, in Archaeometallurgy in Europe II (Milan), 158–176.
Hauptmann A, Maddin R and Prange M, 2002, ‘On the structure and composition of copper and tin ingots excavated from the shipwreck of Uluburun’, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 328, 1–30.
Jackson C and Smedley J 2004, ‘Medieval and post-medieval glass technology: melting characteristics of some glasses melted from vegetable ash and sand mixtures’, Glass Technology 45, 36–42.
Kassianidou V 2008, ‘The formative years of the Cypriot copper industry’, in I Tzachili (ed), Aegean Metallurgy in the Bronze Age (Athens), 249–267.
Kearns T, Martinón-Torres M and Rehren T 2010 ‘Metal to mould: alloy identification in experimental casting moulds using XRF’, Historical Metallurgy 44(1), 48–58.
Lordkipanidze O 2001, ‘The Golden Fleece: myth, euhemeristic explanation and archaeology’, Oxford Journal of Archaeology 20, 1–38.
McGeehan-Liritzis V and Gale N H 1988, ‘Chemical and lead isotope analyses of Greek Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age metals’. Archaeometry 30, 199–225.
Mecking O and Walter D 2004, ‘Gussformen und Tiegel aus zwei Siedlungen der Urnenfelderzeit im nördlichen Thüringen‘, Alt-Thüringen 37, 53–67.
Oberweiler C 2005, La métallurgie du cuivre et du bronze dans le monde égéen du Bronze Ancien au début du Bronze Récent (IIIe millenaire – début du IIe millenaire av. J.-C.): les techniques de fonderie. Unpublished PhD thesis, Université Paris I.
Papadimitriou G 1991, ‘Copper and bronze metallurgy in ancient Greece’, in E Pernicka and G Wagner (eds), Archaeometry ’90, 117–126.
Papastamataki A, Dimitriou D and Orphanos B 1994, ‘Mining and metallurgical activities in Pelasgia. The production of copper in Antiquity’, in R Misdraki-Kapou (ed), La Thessalie. Quinze années de recherches archéologiques, 1979–1900. Bilans et perspectives, Tome A (Athens), 243–248.
Pernicka, E 2012, Analysis Report 12-040a. Unpublished report, Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie, 21.12.2012.
Poursat J-C and Oberweiler C 2011, ‘Metalworking at Malia, Quartier Mu: High or Low technology?’ in P Betancourt and S Serrence (eds), Metallurgy: Understanding how, learning why, Studies in honour of James D Muhly (Philadelphia), 125–131.
Pusch E 1990, ‘Metallverarbeitende Werkstätten der frühen Ramessidenzeit in Qantir-Piramesse/Nord’, Ägypten und Levante 1, 75–113.
Rademakers F W, Rehren T and Pusch E B in press, ‘Bronze production in Pi-Ramesse: alloying technology and material use’, in E Ben-Yosef and Y Goren (eds), Mining for copper: Essays in honor of Professor Beno Rothenberg (Tel Aviv).
Radivojević M, Rehren T, Kuzmanović-Cvetković J, Jovanović M and Northover J P 2013, ‘Tainted ores and the rise of tin bronzes in Eurasia, c.6500 years ago’, Antiquity 87, 1030–1045.
Rehren T 1997, ‘Ramesside glass colouring crucibles’, Archaeometry 39, 355–368.
Rehren T 2001, ‘2.6 Die Schmelzgefässe aus Cham-Oberwil’, in U Gnepf-Horisberger and S Hämmerle (eds), Cham-Oberwil, Hof (Kanton Zug). Befunde und Funde aus der Glockenbecherkultur und der Bronzezeit (Basel), 118–131.
Rehren T 2009, ‘From mine to microbe – the Neolithic copper melting crucibles from Switzerland’, in A Shortland, I Freestone and T Rehren (eds), From mine to microscope. Advances in the study of ancient technology (Oxford), 155–162.
Rothenberg B 1990, The ancient metallurgy of copper. Researches in the Arabah 1959–1984, Vol 2 (London).
Ryndina N, Indenbaum G and Kolosova V 1999, ‘Copper production from polymetallic sulphide ores in the northeastern Balkan Eneolithic culture’, Journal of Archaeological Science 26, 1059–1068.
Schneider G and Zimmer G 1986, ‘Technische Keramik aus den antiken Bronzegußwerkstätten in Olympia und Athen’, Berliner Beiträge zur Archäometrie 9, 17–60.
Skafida E, Karnava A and Olivier J-P 2012 ‘Two new Linear B tablets from the site of “Kastro-Palaia” in Volos’, in Études mycéniennes 2010. Actes du XIIIe colloque international sur les textes égéens, Sèvres, Paris, Nanterre, 20-23 septembre 2010 (Pisa and Rome), 55–73.
Theocharis D R 1961, ‘11. Excavations in Iolkos’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1956, 119–130, pl 42–5 [in Greek].
Theocharis D R 1962, ‘7. Excavations in Iolkos’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1957, 54–69, pl 16–17 [in Greek].
Theocharis D R 1964, ‘8. Iolkos’ excavations’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1961, 45–54, pl 17–23 [in Greek].
Theocharis D R 1965, ‘8. Excavations in Iolkos’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1960, 49–59, pl 35–39 [in Greek].
Thornton C P 2009, ‘The emergence of complex metallurgy on the Iranian plateau: Escaping the Levantine paradigm’, Journal of World Prehistory 22, 301–327.
Thornton C P, Golden J, Killick D, Pigott V C, Rehren T and Roberts B W 2010, ‘A Chalcolithic error: Rebuttal to Amzallag 2009’, American Journal of Archaeology 114, 305–315.
Tizzoni M, Cucini-Tizzoni C, Rebay G and Riccardi M P 2008, ‘Archaeometallurgical researches in the Orthris Mountains, Greece’, in Y Facorellis, N Zacharias and K Polikreti (eds), Proceedings of the 4th symposium of the Hellenic Society for Archaeometry (Athens), 535–544.
Tsountas C 1908, The prehistoric acropolis of Dimini and Sesklo (Athens) [in Greek].
Tylecote, R F 1976, A history of metallurgy (London).
Bayley J and Rehren T 2007, ‘Towards a functional and typological classification of crucibles’, in S La Niece, D Hook and P Craddock (eds), Metals and mines. Studies in archaeometallurgy (London), 46–55.
Dungworth D 2000, ‘A note on the analysis of crucibles and moulds’, Historical Metallurgy 34(2), 83–86.
Eccleston M 2008, ‘Metalworking at Amarna: a preliminary report’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 19, 29–47.
Evely D, Hein A and Nodarou E 2012, ‘Crucibles from Palaikastro, East Crete: insights into metallurgical technology in the Aegean Late Bronze Age’, Journal of Archaeological Science 39, 1821–1836.
Gale N, Kayafa M and Stos-Gale Z A 2009, ‘Further evidence for Bronze Age production of copper from ores in the Lavrion ore district, Attica, Greece’, in Archaeometallurgy in Europe II (Milan), 158–176.
Hauptmann A, Maddin R and Prange M, 2002, ‘On the structure and composition of copper and tin ingots excavated from the shipwreck of Uluburun’, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 328, 1–30.
Jackson C and Smedley J 2004, ‘Medieval and post-medieval glass technology: melting characteristics of some glasses melted from vegetable ash and sand mixtures’, Glass Technology 45, 36–42.
Kassianidou V 2008, ‘The formative years of the Cypriot copper industry’, in I Tzachili (ed), Aegean Metallurgy in the Bronze Age (Athens), 249–267.
Kearns T, Martinón-Torres M and Rehren T 2010 ‘Metal to mould: alloy identification in experimental casting moulds using XRF’, Historical Metallurgy 44(1), 48–58.
Lordkipanidze O 2001, ‘The Golden Fleece: myth, euhemeristic explanation and archaeology’, Oxford Journal of Archaeology 20, 1–38.
McGeehan-Liritzis V and Gale N H 1988, ‘Chemical and lead isotope analyses of Greek Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age metals’. Archaeometry 30, 199–225.
Mecking O and Walter D 2004, ‘Gussformen und Tiegel aus zwei Siedlungen der Urnenfelderzeit im nördlichen Thüringen‘, Alt-Thüringen 37, 53–67.
Oberweiler C 2005, La métallurgie du cuivre et du bronze dans le monde égéen du Bronze Ancien au début du Bronze Récent (IIIe millenaire – début du IIe millenaire av. J.-C.): les techniques de fonderie. Unpublished PhD thesis, Université Paris I.
Papadimitriou G 1991, ‘Copper and bronze metallurgy in ancient Greece’, in E Pernicka and G Wagner (eds), Archaeometry ’90, 117–126.
Papastamataki A, Dimitriou D and Orphanos B 1994, ‘Mining and metallurgical activities in Pelasgia. The production of copper in Antiquity’, in R Misdraki-Kapou (ed), La Thessalie. Quinze années de recherches archéologiques, 1979–1900. Bilans et perspectives, Tome A (Athens), 243–248.
Pernicka, E 2012, Analysis Report 12-040a. Unpublished report, Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie, 21.12.2012.
Poursat J-C and Oberweiler C 2011, ‘Metalworking at Malia, Quartier Mu: High or Low technology?’ in P Betancourt and S Serrence (eds), Metallurgy: Understanding how, learning why, Studies in honour of James D Muhly (Philadelphia), 125–131.
Pusch E 1990, ‘Metallverarbeitende Werkstätten der frühen Ramessidenzeit in Qantir-Piramesse/Nord’, Ägypten und Levante 1, 75–113.
Rademakers F W, Rehren T and Pusch E B in press, ‘Bronze production in Pi-Ramesse: alloying technology and material use’, in E Ben-Yosef and Y Goren (eds), Mining for copper: Essays in honor of Professor Beno Rothenberg (Tel Aviv).
Radivojević M, Rehren T, Kuzmanović-Cvetković J, Jovanović M and Northover J P 2013, ‘Tainted ores and the rise of tin bronzes in Eurasia, c.6500 years ago’, Antiquity 87, 1030–1045.
Rehren T 1997, ‘Ramesside glass colouring crucibles’, Archaeometry 39, 355–368.
Rehren T 2001, ‘2.6 Die Schmelzgefässe aus Cham-Oberwil’, in U Gnepf-Horisberger and S Hämmerle (eds), Cham-Oberwil, Hof (Kanton Zug). Befunde und Funde aus der Glockenbecherkultur und der Bronzezeit (Basel), 118–131.
Rehren T 2009, ‘From mine to microbe – the Neolithic copper melting crucibles from Switzerland’, in A Shortland, I Freestone and T Rehren (eds), From mine to microscope. Advances in the study of ancient technology (Oxford), 155–162.
Rothenberg B 1990, The ancient metallurgy of copper. Researches in the Arabah 1959–1984, Vol 2 (London).
Ryndina N, Indenbaum G and Kolosova V 1999, ‘Copper production from polymetallic sulphide ores in the northeastern Balkan Eneolithic culture’, Journal of Archaeological Science 26, 1059–1068.
Schneider G and Zimmer G 1986, ‘Technische Keramik aus den antiken Bronzegußwerkstätten in Olympia und Athen’, Berliner Beiträge zur Archäometrie 9, 17–60.
Skafida E, Karnava A and Olivier J-P 2012 ‘Two new Linear B tablets from the site of “Kastro-Palaia” in Volos’, in Études mycéniennes 2010. Actes du XIIIe colloque international sur les textes égéens, Sèvres, Paris, Nanterre, 20-23 septembre 2010 (Pisa and Rome), 55–73.
Theocharis D R 1961, ‘11. Excavations in Iolkos’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1956, 119–130, pl 42–5 [in Greek].
Theocharis D R 1962, ‘7. Excavations in Iolkos’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1957, 54–69, pl 16–17 [in Greek].
Theocharis D R 1964, ‘8. Iolkos’ excavations’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1961, 45–54, pl 17–23 [in Greek].
Theocharis D R 1965, ‘8. Excavations in Iolkos’, Praktika tis en Athinais Archaeologikis Etaireias 1960, 49–59, pl 35–39 [in Greek].
Thornton C P 2009, ‘The emergence of complex metallurgy on the Iranian plateau: Escaping the Levantine paradigm’, Journal of World Prehistory 22, 301–327.
Thornton C P, Golden J, Killick D, Pigott V C, Rehren T and Roberts B W 2010, ‘A Chalcolithic error: Rebuttal to Amzallag 2009’, American Journal of Archaeology 114, 305–315.
Tizzoni M, Cucini-Tizzoni C, Rebay G and Riccardi M P 2008, ‘Archaeometallurgical researches in the Orthris Mountains, Greece’, in Y Facorellis, N Zacharias and K Polikreti (eds), Proceedings of the 4th symposium of the Hellenic Society for Archaeometry (Athens), 535–544.
Tsountas C 1908, The prehistoric acropolis of Dimini and Sesklo (Athens) [in Greek].
Tylecote, R F 1976, A history of metallurgy (London).
How to Cite
Rehren, T., Asderaki-Tzoumerkioti, E., Skafida, E., & Karnava, A. (2021). Bronze Age crucibles from the Kastro- Palaia settlement, Volos, Greece – a contradiction of form and function?. Historical Metallurgy, 47(2), 111-124. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/97
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How to Cite
Rehren, T., Asderaki-Tzoumerkioti, E., Skafida, E., & Karnava, A. (2021). Bronze Age crucibles from the Kastro- Palaia settlement, Volos, Greece – a contradiction of form and function?. Historical Metallurgy, 47(2), 111-124. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/97