Analysis of finds (ingots and scrap) from the production centers near Nadarevo, Targovishte municipality (part II)
Analysis of finds (ingots and scrap) from the production centers near Nadarevo, Targovishte municipality (part II)

Summary/Abstract: The present work aims to explain a part of the results of the elemental analysis of selected finds from the production center near Nadarevo, Targovishte municipality. Among them, finished products prevail, as well as raw materials. Mainly the latter refer to ingots and scrap metal reused for the production of new objects. The research was conducted at the Atomki Institute, Debrecen within the framework of IPERION-CH TNA Project (ACONOMAB) in 2018-2019. Proceeding to the essence of the topic, we should note that during the current second stage of the project, a total of 24 finds from the production center near Nadarevo were analyzed (Tab. I). Depending on the elemental composition of the base, the alloys from which the finds were cast are mainly: copper and lead alloys. The results of the research of the presented products and raw materials show that the non-ferrous metal entered the workshops of the production center near Nadarevo in the form of ingots, various scraps and old, out-of-use products. This includes both brass ingots and alloys with a predominance of brass, as well as "pure" copper, which was used as a basis for preparing the future alloy. Alloying additives, mainly lead and tin, were added to the “pure” metals, which contributed to improving the casting qualities of the alloy and obtaining quality castings with the desired appearance. Besides in the form of ingots, the metal in the workshops also came from scraps of non-ferrous metal - out-of-use products - ornaments, dishes, household items, etc. Thus, various raw materials enter the production centers: copper, brass, lead, tin-lead and lead-tin bronze. The frequency processing of the data from the analysis shows that tin and lead are predominantly used as alloying components to copper. Arsenic, antimony, silver and zinc do not play a leading role with the alloys in these cases. The insignificant concentrations of these elements give reason to consider them as natural impurities, and their distribution is a consequence of the extraction of metal from ores of different origin. Iron, which reaches several percent in copper, is also a natural impurity. In practice, in the production center near Nadarevo, alloys of non-ferrous metals of different composition and character were used, but preference was given to high-tin bronzes with the addition of lead.

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