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Several bronzes, casting moulds, crucible walls, copper slags, and other confirmed relics of copper casting from the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BCE − 476 BCE) and early Warring States period (476 BCE – 221 BCE) were unearthed at the Datongpu site in Jianhucounty, Jiangsu province, between 2019 and 2021. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and multicollector–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed to examine the metal resources and mould-making technology of the bronze casting industry of the Yue state during the eastern Zhou dynasty (770 BCE − 221 BCE). The metal particles in the slag suggest that the melted alloy product is high-tin bronze, and the ceramic mould contained a significant amount of plant debris. This indicates that the casting technology involving high-tin bronze alloy production and the use of plant ash in moulds is characteristic of the lower Yangtze river region, highlighting the northward spread of the Yue state. Accordingly, the lead materials at Datongpu site were predominantly sourced from the Central Plains, confirming the records of the relationship between the Jin state and the Yue state in the early Warring States period. The findings highlight the technological advancements of the Yue state and support historical accounts of interactions between the Jin and Yue states. This study is significant as it provides new insights into the technological and material aspects of the bronze casting industry during the eastern Zhou dynasty, which is crucial for understanding regional metallurgical practices and cultural interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a review and analysis of bronze wheels with fi ve spokes each and anthropomorphic statue of the Bronze Age Sanxingdui culture spread in the Sichuan province of the PRC. The author calls “statues” life-size human figures with a height of at least 50 cm (but not their parts, such as heads), assembled from pre-cast parts. He suggests calling the smaller sculptures, cast at one time, “statuettes” . The design features of bronze anthropomorphic statues of Sanxingdui allow us to synchronize the time of their creation with the existence of bronze masks of types A and C, as well as bronze “spirit trees” No. 2 and No. 1, since the same technological methods were used in their production. Bronze wheels could be related to the skirt-wearing human fi gure with talons holding in them two snake-like creatures with bird’s heads. Both those wheels and the statue could be interpreted with the help of ancient Indian myths about Garuda. Recent fi nds in JK8 sacrifi cial pit from Sanxingdui were also taken into account in the article.

This essay reviews the discovery of three sites where deposits of bronze fragments have been found, in the Roman cities of Pisaurum, Sentinum and Potentia. Each site yielded small bronze fragments and some tools, which lead us to suppose that these were sites of Late Antique foundries, where large bronze statues and other bronze objects were broken up to be remelted. The foundries were located on land previously occupied by taverns in the forum area or by residential quarters. This means that the urban plan of the cities had already been partially transformed, probably due to Christianisation and the construction of churches, which became the new community centres, to the detriment of the older areas of the forum. The rampant poverty and shortage of raw materials, especially metals, made foundries indispensable and, consequently, their widespread presence, even within the cities, probably became customary. Perhaps the numerous bronze fragments found in other centres of the region should also be interpreted in this same sense, as indications of foundries, even if the structures where the metal was worked have not been preserved.

This essay reviews the discovery of three sites where deposits of bronze fragments have been found, in the Roman cities of Pisaurum, Sentinum and Potentia. Each site yielded small bronze fragments and some tools, which lead us to suppose that these were sites of Late Antique foundries, where large bronze statues and other bronze objects were broken up to be remelted. The foundries were located on land previously occupied by taverns in the forum area or by residential quarters. This means that the urban plan of the cities had already been partially transformed, probably due to Christianisation and the construction of churches, which became the new community centres, to the detriment of the older areas of the forum. The rampant poverty and shortage of raw materials, especially metals, made foundries indispensable and, consequently, their widespread presence, even within the cities, probably became customary. Perhaps the numerous bronze fragments found in other centres of the region should also be interpreted in this same sense, as indications of foundries, even if the structures where the metal was worked have not been preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract At the Hwangnyongsa temple site, which was founded in 633, at Dongdaebong Mountain in Korea, a large number of gilt-bronze artefacts have been excavated. Optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, focused ion beam and transmission electron microscopy were used to identify the structure of specimen and impurities. This article investigated the impurities and copper grains in bronze Buddha robes from the Hwangnyongsa temple site to determine the ancient bronze craft technology in the Unified Silla period (seventh–tenth). The XRF results of the specimens indicated that they were made using an alloy of copper and tin, and gold plating was only added on the front side. The microstructure of the specimen was confirmed to be a recrystallized equiaxed hexagonal structure with twins and impurities. The EDS results of the impurities indicated the molar ratio of Cu:S was 2:1, and the electron diffraction pattern substantiated this result by indicating Cu2S (JCPDF 33-0490). The surface of the specimen consisted of a highlead layer and copper grains. It was hypothesized that the copper grains were formed by the reaction of Pb with the matte (Cu2S) during casting. Lead with black gas would aid in the production of high-quality bronze. The copper grains used were found in Silla, as they have been detected in Koryo bronze artefacts. Hence, it is plausible that the ancient artisans knew that lead provided good bronze quality during the casting process.

Graph: Figure 23 Type A crucible fragment (G7 (1):57). Keywords: Huangpi District; Wuhan; Guoyuanzui site; bronze casting; Shang dynasty EN Huangpi District Wuhan Guoyuanzui site bronze casting Shang dynasty 32 52 21 11/16/22 20221101 NES 221101 Postscript The original article , prepared by Gang Hu , Xiaofeng Cheng , Yuwu Xie , and Shirui Lin , was published in Kaogu (Archaeology) 2021.7:49-77 with 92 illustrations, one table, and eight notes. The soil is unusually hard and compact, with a maximum thickness of 0.35m; the lower layer (Layer 4) is reddish-brown soil, interspersed with scattered Shang dynasty pottery sherds, and occasionally there are red burnt soil granules, pebbles, and smoke traces. Monuments of Huangpi District, Wuhan. [Extracted from the article]

The investigation presented in this paper is a unique assemblage of ceramic casting molds discovered at one of the sites from the Bohai period (698–926) in the territory of the southern Russian Far East. The main research aim is to recognize probable traces of metal alloys cast in ceramic molds. Nondestructive pXRF and SEM-EDS methods were used as the research instruments for detecting the expected alloys’ chemical components. As a result, the elements Pb, Sn, Cu, and As were indicated at the surfaces of the molds’ cavities with evidence of carbonization caused by the casting process. Preliminarily, two groups of alloys were distinguished: lead-bearing alloys and lead-free alloys. Our new insights are in good accordance with the results of previous investigations on chemical compositions of bronzes from the Bohai period archaeological sites of the southern Russian Far East. In particular, data on the examination of ceramic molds confirm the conclusion that various kinds of copper alloys were known and used in the bronze casting craft of the Bohai period.

ABSTRACTThe introduction of Western education to Nigeria has brought in its wake great strides toward development. Changes in Benin dates far back to the dawn of the 20th century. This paper investigates the critical role of education in development. The paper integrates interview data collected from bronze casters in Benin. The first section of the paper discusses sustainable development in Nigeria involving an infrastructure that supports accessible educational system and Benin social values. The second part of the paper discusses the present dispensation of bronze casting by Olotan casters of Benin. The paper identifies education as being critical to sustainable development. Some characteristics connected to development in the practice of bronze casting in Benin include visioning, relaxing of age old practices and acceptance of western influences.

Interdisciplinary research, carried out by the Masaryk University Brno and the University of Vienna, at the site of Lány (CZ) at the border between Austria and Moravia has revealed a large settlement (∼12ha) from the 6th century until the 8th/9th century in a contact zone between Slavonic and Avarian influences. Aside from pottery that ranges from early slavic finds of the Prague type to specimens of the middle-danubian tradition („mitteldanubische Kulturtradition") and other finds such as spindle whorls etc. several dozen typical Avar belt accessories have been found. Most of them date to the late Avar III period, are brand new and do not show any traces of usage. Together with semi-finished products, miscast objects and remains of the bronze casting process, we interpret Lány as a production site/workshop for Avar belts. Lány is at the very Northwestern periphery of the Avar Khaganate. However, material culture, aside from the belt accessories, is much more associated with what we know from regions where Slavonic populations of the 7th/8th century had settled. We furthermore discuss the usage of Avar belts amongst the Slavic elites of the 8th century and possible explanations for the dense distribution of Avar finds outside of the Khaganate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation presented in this paper is a unique assemblage of ceramic casting molds discovered at one of the sites from the Bohai period (698–926) in the territory of the southern Russian Far East. The main research aim is to recognize probable traces of metal alloys cast in ceramic molds. Nondestructive pXRF and SEM-EDS methods were used as the research instruments for detecting the expected alloys' chemical components. As a result, the elements Pb, Sn, Cu, and As were indicated at the surfaces of the molds' cavities with evidence of carbonization caused by the casting process. Preliminarily, two groups of alloys were distinguished: lead-bearing alloys and lead-free alloys. Our new insights are in good accordance with the results of previous investigations on chemical compositions of bronzes from the Bohai period archaeological sites of the southern Russian Far East. In particular, data on the examination of ceramic molds confirm the conclusion that various kinds of copper alloys were known and used in the bronze casting craft of the Bohai period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The article is devoted to the results of tracing research of things made of non-ferrous metals from the collections of Tsarevskoe, Vodyanskoe, and Mechetnoe settlements, stored in the funds of the Volgograd regional museum of local lore. Method. The author used the method of tracing. The digital microscope DigiMicro 2.0. was used to record the results of observation. Analysis. The author studied 63 products and allocated two large groups: 1) cast products and 2) forged products. The study fixed the following operations for cast products: the use of open and closed molds, casting in composite forms, casting by the smelted model, by the impression, liner casting. In group 2, the following methods of forging were singled out: forming forging, punching, drawing and forging of wire, bending, drawing, twisting, hacking, cutting. Soldering was used to connect the elements. After forming, most of the products passed the subsequent processing associated with the removal of defects (primarily post-casting) and the application of decor (hammering, engraving, stamping, polishing). In addition, the decor could be formed during the creation of the mold (cast decor). Results. As a result of the study, it was noted the use of a wide range of techniques and operations with a comparative technological simplicity for most products. It was also noticed that a few things have been specially prepared for the processing, and it demonstrates the use of secondary raw materials.

The paper introduces into scientific discourse a split stone foundry mould discovered a result of activities of 2014 at excavation No. CXCIX of Bolgar settlement. It belongs to the closed type and consists of two flaps, each of which has two working planes. The mould contains seven grooves for the production of closed lunulas of a closed type, one of them contains an inscription in Naskh script. The main adjacent working planes of the mould feature a smelting groove for moulding a hollow bracelet – imitation of the renowned braided bracelets with interwoven filigree. The ends of such articles have the shape of animal heads. The author concludes that it was manufactured with the use of the “splashing”. The finding in question was discovered in the layer of Bolgar settlement dated the 1320–40s.

Traces of bronze casting – fragmented moulds and crucibles - frequently occur at Late Bronze Age settlements. These traces are often assumed to represent utilitarian domestic production, in contrast to more specialised workshop production at ritual or elite locations. Moreover, settlements have often been reduced to overall production units, while actual arrangements of bronze casting within sites has remained unexplored. The aim of this paper is to provide new insight into the organization of metalworking from an empirical and ‘bottom up’ perspective by examining the spatial and social contexts of bronze casting. The analysis draws on ten excavated sites in south-eastern Sweden and addresses three spatial levels: site, setting and framing. The study shows that domestic arenas often hosted varied and complex metalworking staged at various indoor and outdoor hearths located in the core areas of settlements. Rather than being conceptualized as levels, the organization of Late Bronze Age metalworking was a multifaceted, communicative and user-oriented practice. These insights have consequences for excavation methods as well as for the interpretation of the role of metalworking in society.

In this paper, we present the results of the archaeometric analysis performed on a nuragic bronze statuette, representing a boat model decorated with zoomorphic figurines, made in Sardinia during the early Iron Age. The bronze boat model was found in the Etruscan tomb of the Duce located in Vetulonia (Italy) and dated no later than the second half of the seventh century bc. The Vetulonia boat model represents an extraordinary example of this type of objects, exhibiting a high level of complexity from the manufacturing point of view and an unusual choice of the subjects represented by the figurines. The study was performed by means of Time of Flight Neutron Diffraction, a non-destructive method able to give us quantitative information on phase composition and microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lietuvos Archeologija is the property of Lithuanian Institute of History and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Traces of bronze casting - fragmented moulds and crucibles - frequently occur at Late Bronze Age settlements. These traces are often assumed to represent utilitarian domestic production, in contrast to more specialised workshop production at ritual or elite locations. Moreover, settlements have usually been reduced to overall production units, while actual arrangements for bronze casting within sites have remained unexplored. The aim of this paper is to provide new insight into the organization of metalworking from an empirical and 'bottom up' perspective by examining the spatial and social contexts of bronze casting. The analysis draws on ten excavated sites in south-eastern Sweden and addresses three spatial levels: site, setting and framing. The study shows that domestic arenas often hosted varied and complex metalworking staged at various indoor and outdoor hearths located in the core areas of settlements. Rather than being conceptualized as levels, the organization of Late Bronze Age metalworking was a multifaceted, communicative and user-oriented practice. These insights have consequences for excavation methods as well as for the interpretation of the role of metalworking in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional crafts represent the precolonial historical and sociocultural values in the nationalistic narratives disseminated by governmental institutions. Crafts are also a fast-growing export sector in India. In this paper, I explore the concept of "tradition" as it is used by the craft industry and how it impacts a hereditary sculptor community in Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu. How can "hand" work coexist with profitability in a capitalistic market? I argue that Vishwakarma caste sculptors claim traditional status in spite of a changed arts practice because of the malleability of the concept of tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article deals with the possibility of using the reverse engineering method for the production of prototype molds by Patternless process technology. Article describes method how to obtain virtual model by using a 3D scanner. Article also explains principle of the Patternless process technology, which is based on the milling mold cavity using CNC machining equipment. The aim of the research is the use of advanced technologies that speed up and facilitate the process of production prototype mold. The practical result of the presented experiment is bronze casting, which serves as a foot rest bracket on historic bike.

Copyright of Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this work we investigate various aspects of the finishing process in ancient bronze sculptures by means of active infrared thermography (IRT). Active IRT provides information on surface and sub-surface features of the investigated artefact, by analysing the heat diffusion process induced within the sample by appropriate thermal stimulations usually produced by absorption of light emitted by different sources. The aim of this research is, in particular, to investigate the processing of bronze surfaces, revealing repairs like plugs, fillings, local castings and concealed marks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant part of the knowledge used in the production processes is represented with natural language. Yet, the use of that knowledge in computer-assisted decision-making requires the application of appropriate formal and development tools. An interesting possibility is created by the use of an ontology that is understandable both for humans and for the computer. This paper presents a proposal for structuring the information about the foundry processes, based on the definition of ontology adapted to the physical structure of the ongoing technological operations that make up the process of producing castings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a study on the degradation of the King Matthias I sculptural group caused by environment factors and influenced by the casting technology and by the assembling method. During this study, samples from inside the statue were used and analyzed through microscopy and X ray diffraction.

Copyright of Archeologia Medievale: Cultura Materiale, Insediamenti, Territorio is the property of All'Insegna del Giglio s.a.s. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Piece mould casting technology, as a hall mark of the central plains of China during the Bronze Age, has attracted scholars'' interest globally. Bronze ritual vessels found in this area were produced in large quantities and generally cast with the moulds composed of three or more sections. This enormous industry certainly required workers to have had professional knowledge to ensure the success of every single cast. Mould making technology was one of its most important parts. This research looks into the microstructure of bronze casting moulds of the Eastern Zhou period, which was a rarely studied topic in previous research. Through comparison with local pottery, it is shown that casting moulds in this period were produced with quite specialized sand-rich material, and clay was only a minor component. It is then discussed how this unique material can be beneficial to the bronze casting process and how this technology was integrated as a crucial part of the Chinese bronze casting system. These analyses might be able to portray mould makers in the ancient bronze foundries as a group of specialized people with their own traditions and professional knowledge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Evaluation of NTFPs input in bronze casting at Igun Street in Benin City was carried out with the use of measurement of inputs and questionnaires. Fifty percent sampling intensity was used to obtain 42 from the total population of 84 Bronze Casters. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics of frequency, percentages and inferential statistics using ANOVA. Results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the mean weight of the inputs. The results revealed that the seasonal price variation among the various inputs were 30, 22, 38 and 10% of the respondents for charcoal, beeswax, fuelwood and laterite respectively. The patronage levels of bronze users were always (34.51%), sometimes and once a while accounted for 45.22 and 20.24% respectively. Difficulties associated with sourcing of bronze casting inputs were expensive nature, scarcity, exportation, exotic nature and unstable supply which accounted for 34.43, 27.05, 34.43, 2.46 and 1.64% respectively. Also, 100% of the respondents were of the view that bronze was very difficult to source while 42.42% of them were of the opinion that beeswax was difficult to source. Charcoal, laterite and fuelwood were easy to sources expressed by 28.33, 27.51 and 9.10% of the respondents' respectively. It is necessary to ensure sustainable management of NTFPs so as to guarantee their steady supply at reasonably low prices for bronze casting enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Visual examination and advanced analytical techniques were used to re-examine the large Hellenistic bronze naval ram found in 1980 at Athlit Bay, south of Haifa, Israel. The aim was to reevaluate the method used to manufacture this massive bronze casting. In contrast to an earlier study of the ram that suggested that it was manufactured using the sand-casting method, a technique not otherwise known prior to the late Medieval period, the current study suggests that the ram was manufactured by the lost-wax technique commonly used during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Newly gathered data point to a selective use of the direct and indirect lost-wax casting methods to manufacture different parts of the ram, and allow postulation of the innovative use of the direct lost-wax casting method to fulfil the ram design requirements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The external connections of Igbo-Ukwu, in the forest belt of south-eastern Nigeria, around the ninth century AD, are demonstrated by the large numbers of glass beads, apparently of Egyptian manufacture, and are implicit in the rich collection of bronze artwork that lacks known prototypes. Although the metals were mined locally, the labor and the expert alloying and casting of numerous ritual or ornamental objects indicate an accumulation of wealth derived from distant trade of special commodities. The identification of these commodities, however, and the routes by which they—and in the reverse direction the beads—would have traveled, remain unsatisfactorily resolved. A preference is repeated here for an eastern Sahelian routing from Lake Chad to the Middle Nile kingdoms (Alwa and Makuria/Dongola), then at their height, thus avoiding the Sahara. The alternative direction suggested recently (Insoll, T., and Shaw, T. (1997) Gao and Igbo-Ukwu: Beads, interregional trade and beyond. African Archaeological Review, 14:9–23), through Gao on the Niger bend and across the west-central Sahara, seems less likely on grounds of geography and chronology. The essential items of merchandise deriving from Igbo-Ukwu are unlikely to be those commonly assumed for sub-Saharan Africa, notably ivory and slaves, but would have been more local and precious, presumably metals. The bronzes stored and buried at Igbo-Ukwu might be regarded as by-products of this export activity. Demands in the Nile Valley for tin (for bronze alloying) and for silver, both of which occur in the ores exploited, deserve consideration. A call is made for comparative study of metals and their uses between the Middle Nile and West Africa in the first millennium AD—a neglected subject owing to the intellectual gulf that persists between Africanists and Egyptologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]