Functions and contexts of Bronze Age metal casting moulds from Poland

Abstract

Metal casting moulds, designed mostly to produce only one type of artefact, are a fascinating group of artefacts that have been recorded in many parts of Bronze Age Europe. Despite some examples of moulds for ornaments, the use of metal moulds is strongly connected with axe production. Moreover, most of the moulds were deposited deliberately in bogs and rivers in a similar way as axes. A recent find of such a mould from Gaj Oławski in southwestern Poland inspired us to bring together a small collection of bronze casting moulds from Poland. In our study, we focus on the contexts and possible functions of metal casting moulds with a particular focus on the recent find. Metal casting moulds dated back to the Bronze Age are rare in Poland with only five examples of such finds known to date. Such moulds were discovered at Pawłowiczki, Brzeg Głogowski, Kiełpino and Rosko. Their distribution is random even if the sites occur only in western Poland they are too few to speak of any pattern of deposition ( fig. 1). A complete, two-piece item from Pawłowiczki -probably part of a deposit -was found in 1869; however, the precise location is unknown. Based on the axe's characteristics, the mould can be dated to the 5th period of the Bronze Age (i.e. ca. 900 -700 BC). At Brzeg Głogowski, a complete two-piece mould was found, however no details of its discovery are known. Together with the mould, a complete socketed axe was found which had been cast in this mould ( fig. 4d). As at Pawłowiczki, this mould can be dated to the 5th period of the Bronze Age (i.e. ca. 900 -700 BC). The bog hoard from Kiełpino was discovered in 1884, and among a number of bronze ornaments and elements of horse gear, an iron knife and a lump of iron ore, there were also two complete two-piece moulds and two socketed axes that fitted them. The deposit from Rosko consists mostly of bronze socketed axes decorated with vertical ribs (67 items), and two, two-piece bronze casting moulds (figs. 5, 6), which makes the deposit an excellent example of selected deposition. The deposit contained mostly axes that were typical for large parts of south-western Poland and may be dated to ca. 900 -700 BC. According to an opinion that is common in Polish sources, metal casting moulds, due to their low resistance to high temperatures, were used exclusively for making wax or lead models and not bronze products themselves. The archaeometric investigation's aim was to identify both the chemical composition of the mould (including the alloy's main elements and the molecular composition of the corrosion layers), and the original purpose of the item. There are two types of data obtained for the mould from Gaj Oławski. One group refers to the mineralogical composition of the item and proved the relative low tin content of it. The result corresponds with the opinion that the axes -regarding the alloys and casting techniques -display relatively lower quality. This also fits the view that the low tin content may indicate better resistance against high temperatures and direct metal ...

Long-distance connections of the south-eastern peripheries of the Lublin region at the time of the Lusatian culture in the light of archival and newly discovered materials

“…Bronze casting moulds belong to extremely rare metallurgical accessories. In the Polish lands only a few specimens come from the western zone covered by the Lusatian culture inhabitation (Baron et al 2014). The item from the Sieniocha river whereabouts might be an import from a very distant territory, i.e.…”

Material Genealogies: Bronze Moulds and their Castings in Later Bronze Age Britain

“…It also contrasts to the situation on the Continent, where several bronze moulds have been found in bogs or rivers, including the Meuse and Saône (Evans 1881, 441; Čivilytė 2004; Jantzen 2008; Kuijpers 2008; Baron et al . 2014). However, the deposition of the British bronze moulds does echo that of their main products – axes – which were also generally deposited in hoards or as single finds on dry land (eg, Roberts & Ottaway 2003).…”

Beeswax remnants, phase and major element chemical composition of the bronze age mould from Gaj Oławski (SW Poland)

“…The surface is covered with a green patina and number of corrosion marks (Fig. 2) which have been recognised as copper oxide and carbonates (Baron et al 2014). The mould measures 17.5×7.2×4.0 cm, while the axe was designed to be 15.6 cm long with a socket diameter of 3.5 cm and a maximum blade width of 4 cm (Fig.…”

“…The studied artefact, although a stray find, was discovered at a stream what suggests a similar original context. All the metal moulds from Poland, their contexts and possible interpretations have been recently studied (Baron et al 2014). The chemical data on casting moulds from Poland are restricted to those of Sałat et al (2006) who described casting mould from Rosko in western Poland, accompanying the axes deposit dated at 900-700 BC.…”