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There's Method in the Fragments: A Damage Ranking System for Bronze Age Metalwork

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2020

Matthew G. Knight Open the ORCID record for Matthew G. Knight [Opens in a new window]
Matthew G. Knight*
Affiliation:
National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
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Abstract

Broken and damaged Bronze Age metalwork has long been studied, but there is no methodology for identifying signs of intentional versus unintentional action. Past approaches have tended to rely on assumptions about how such finds were damaged. Drawing on the material properties of copper alloys, as well as on recent research into wear-analysis and experimental fragmentation of bronze implements, this article presents a working methodology for identifying deliberate damage. Seven ‘Destruction Indicators’ are presented, with associated criteria, for making informed interpretations about archaeological artefacts. These contribute to a ‘Damage Ranking System’, an index for ranking damage on Bronze Age copper alloy objects based on the likelihood that damage was intentional. Two case studies illustrate how this system can be applied.

Les objets métalliques brisés et endommagés de l’âge du Bronze ont été étudiés maintes fois mais une méthode permettant de distinguer un dégât accidentel d'un acte intentionnel fait encore défaut. Jusqu’à présent, les études se sont généralement fondées sur des suppositions concernant les causes de ce phénomène. En se basant sur les caractéristiques matérielles des alliages de cuivre, en s'appuyant sur des recherches récentes sur l'usure des objets et en tenant compte de travaux expérimentaux sur leur fragmentation, l'auteur propose une approche méthodologique permettant d'identifier ces dégâts. Il identifie sept « indicateurs de destruction » et leurs critères de distinction permettant d'interpréter judicieusement ce matériel archéologique. Ceci le mène à proposer un système de classement gradué des atteintes au mobilier (« Damage Ranking System »), c'est-à dire une méthode d’évaluation du dommage infligé aux objets en alliage de cuivre de l’âge du Bronze basée sur la probabilité qu'un objet a été endommagé intentionnellement. Deux cas d’étude illustrent l'application de ce système. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Die gebrochenen und beschädigten bronzezeitlichen Metallgegenstände sind seit Langem bekannt und erforscht, aber es gibt noch keine Methodologie, die es ermöglicht, zwischen absichtliche und unabsichtliche Geschehen zu differenzieren. Frühere Untersuchungen haben sich oft auf Annahmen über die Schadensursache gestützt. Auf der Grundlage der Materialeigenschaften von Kupferlegierungen, und auf der Basis von neueren Studien über Gebrauchsspuren sowie experimentelle Untersuchungen über die Fragmentierung von Geräten aus Bronze, schlägt der Verfasser ein methodologisches Verfahren zur Bestimmung von absichtlichen Schaden vor. Sieben „Zerstörungskennzeichen“ und dazugehörige Merkmale werden hier vorgelegt, um das archäologische Material fundiert zu deuten. Diese Indikatoren führen zu einem Rangfolgesystem für die Bewertung von beschädigten bronzezeitlichen kupferlegierten Gegenständen, eine Methode, welche die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines absichtlichen Schadens bewertet. Zwei Fallstudien verdeutlichen, wie solch ein System eingesetzt werden kann. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Keywords

Bronze Agedamagedestructionfragmentationmetalworkâge du Bronzedégâtsdestructionfragmentationmobilier métalliqueBronzezeitSchadenZerstörungFragmentierungMetallgegenstände
Type
Article
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 48 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 2020

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