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This study reconstructed the technical chaîne operatoire of silver seed bead production in the Maikop culture on the basis of tracewear analysis and experimental research using silver beads from the Early Bronze Age dolmen (c. 3200–2900 bce) in kurgan 2 at Tsarskaya (1898). The results demonstrate that such beads were produced as a "garland" lost wax casting, when a garland of beads is formed on a hollow dry stalk (straw) that burns out during the casting process. The technology of "garland" casting is an original and, probably, the earliest solution in history that helped address the issue of large‐scale production of uniform cast precious metal seed beads. It is not yet clear whether this technology was originally developed in the Caucasus or brought here from Western Asia, where the Maikop culture has its roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the difference of three varied methods which have been used to analyze archaeological metals: X-ray fluorescence analysis – XRF (X-ray spectrometer), energy dispersive X-Ray microanalysis – EDAX (electron microscopy), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MS-ICP). Illustrative examples of different measurements are two fragments of sickles from the hoard near the village of Sosnovaya Maza and three plates of horse harness from the treasure from the territory of the Republic of Crimea. The analysis of the results reveals the importance of formulation an individual methodology for analysis and the process of sample preparation for each measured object.

A methodological approach to integrated electron microscopic studies of metal objects of cultural heritage, developed in the process of studying various exhibits from leading museums of Russia, is presented. The application of the proposed methodological approach allowed both historians and archaeologists to obtain in-depth, detailed information, which greatly supplemented the data currently available.