From weapons and tools to symbols : Use-wear analysis of the Early Bronze Age metal daggers in Bohemia. Preliminary results
Abstrakt
In our lands, the Early Bronze Age is commonly associated with the occurrence of daggers in graves. However, the majority of research linked with the publication or further analysis of the local dagger finds usually highlighted just their occurrence (or not) in the graves per se, followed by a discussion of their chronology and typology.
The function of the daggers and their role in a social context have not been tackled that much so far. Abroad, on the contrary, a whole methodology for the study of use-wear traces on bronze artefacts has been developed in the meantime.
And while it has been applied to typologically different specimens, mainly artefacts linked to warfare, we are equally convinced of its applicability to daggers deposited in the graves of the Únětice culture. This pilot study therefore targets traces of their specific use, the influence of post-depositional processes, and the interpretation of organic residues.
The preliminary results highlight the applicability of such an approach to the daggers as well and indicate their potential for the reconstruction of the 'life cycle of the artefacts'.