Altogether 29 Early and Middle Bronze Age metal objects from Romania including six from the famous Apa hoard were analysed for their chemical compositions and lead isotope ratios. In order to determine the provenance of the copper, these geochemical signatures were compared with copper ores from geological deposits in central and southeastern Europe, which had been exploited in the Bronze Age. It can be concluded that the copper of the implements from the Apa hoard most likely derives from the east Alpine Mitterberg region while the other Middle and Late Bronze Age objects from Romania largely consist of Slovakian copper. Zusammenfassung-Bleiisotopenanalyen von Metallobjekten aus dem Hortfund von Apa und anderen früh-und mittelbronzeitlichen Gegenständen aus Rumänien Insgesamt 29 früh-und mittelbronzezeitliche Metallfunde aus Rumänien inklusive sechs Objekten aus dem berühmten Hortfund von Apa wurden analysiert, um deren chemische Zusammensetzung und ihre Bleiisotopenverhältnisse zu bestimmen. Um die Herkunft des Kupfers zu ermitteln, wurden diese geochemischen Signaturen mit Kupfererzen aus Lagerstätten in Mittel-und Südosteuropa, die in der Bronzezeit ausgebeutet wurden, verglichen. Als Ergebnis kann festgestellt werden, dass das Kupfer der Objekte aus dem Hortfund von Apa sehr wahrscheinlich aus dem Mitterbergrevier in den Ostalpen stammt, während die übrigen mittel-und spätbronzezeitlichen Metallfunde aus Rumänien vorwiegend aus slowakischem Kupfer gefertigt sind. Schlüsselbegriffe

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The paper focuses on isotopic data of bronzes from the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. The sample sets comprise bronzes from hoards, graves, and settlements from Central and Southeastern Europe as well as the Aegean and Mesopotamia. The analytical determination of tin isotopic compositions and a possible use of tin from different ore sources between the Carpathian Basin, the Aegeo-Balkan-Complex and tin bearing regions in Central and Western Europe will be discussed. Since the 2nd millennium bronzes show in general a different isotopic composition than those of the 3rd millennium, the presented analyses indicate a possible reorientation of exchange routes in Europe during the 2nd millennium BC. This is supported by the composition of a few Aegean samples from the turn of the millennia, which have heavier tin isotopic compositions than all other sample sets. This suggests that different tin sources might have been used to manufacture these bronzes.

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Metallic décor is found in many different regions and has sparked a lot of interest, in particular regarding technological questions. Although much has been written about pottery with metal applications, the different techniques and ways of ornamentation in europe have never been related to each other. Besides, the origin of the custom and potential motivations behind it is barely discussed. The same is true about the relations between distant areas with metal-decorated pottery. This paper discusses the distribution and meaning of different types of metal decoration on ceramic and wooden vessels, with special regard to the 'rivet-like' décor made of round bronze metal sheets. The finds enable us at least to reconstruct certain aspects of this custom. technical and stylistic analyses point once more to wide-ranging connections between northern europe and the carpathian Basin. it seems that the origin of the metal application might lay in northern europe.