Material Analyses of Non-ferrous Metals From the Turn of the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period, Using the Example of Finds From Brno – Pekařská Street

Matěj Kmošek, Rudolf Procházka

Archeologia technica, vol. 31 (2020)
Pages: 28–41
Language: Czech
Type of article: scientific article
DOI: n/a

Abstract:
Non-ferrous metal artefacts are a relatively abundant type of archaeological find in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period. Nevertheless, they have not yet received systematic material-analytical attention, which, however, brings new pieces of knowledge, especially in terms of production technologies and materials used. In this respect, an extensive set of non-ferrous metal artefacts from the excavation in Brno – Pekařská Street, dating mostly to the late 15th and first half of the 16th century, was examined using non-destructive surface analysis of elemental composition (pXRF – portable X-ray fluorescence). The predominant use of brass (Cu-Zn), and only exceptionally of unalloyed copper, was identified through material analysis. Some objects were also made from tin and lead alloys. In terms of technological procedures, the use of the tinning of brass and iron artefacts, as well as soft and hard soldering, were identified. The widespread use of brass and tin-lead alloys may indicate a common effort to imitate precious metals (gold and silver, respectively) with cheaper materials used to make artefacts for the wider urban population.