Trash or treasure? Archaeometallurgical investigation of production waste from central agglomeration site Němčice nad Hanou (CZ)
Abstract
Němčice nad Hanou is a singular settlement site situated in central Moravia and operating as production and exchange supraregional centre with its peak in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC (LT C1-C2). Except of iron smithing, amber processing, and glass production, plentiful evidence of copper-based metallurgy was found especially in the form of semi-finished products and rejects.
It is mostly connected to (chain-)belt components, rings, and bushings, though sprues and copper ingots, and casting spills are abundant as well. The production waste was investigated through archaeometallurgical research by combination of methods (morphology, microscopy, surface pXRF, bulk ED-XRF analysis, metallography).
In this way precious information was obtained from finds unattractive at first glance, but essential from the perspective of La Tène period manufacturing techniques. This is particularly true of casting moulds construction and considerations about mass vs. custom production.
The metallurgical results are compared with archaeological evidence in the form of distribution maps of finds, whose production is documented in Němčice. The study sheds new light on production and distribution networks of La Tène period copper-based metallurgy in central Europe.