Metal “Ring Idols”: a Material Approach to Metalworking in the Aegean Neolithic - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2023

Metal “Ring Idols”: a Material Approach to Metalworking in the Aegean Neolithic

Résumé

The “ring idol” is a type of adornment produced from the sixth millennium onwards in the Aegean and the Balkans. While the first productions are made of stone, those from the end of the Neolithic, between the fifth and fourth millennia, are mostly of gold, copper and silver. These objects have a characteristic morphology, with a concave ring and a pierced extension. In the first deposits of metallic objects found in Aegean Neolithic layers, the discovery of “ring idols” is recurrent. Some seem to have been hammered, others possibly cast. This can be observed by traces on their surface. The metal was also perforated to permit suspension, and polished. Some traces have been erased by polishing; therefore, we do not have enough information on the techniques and tools used in these cases. To fill current gaps in knowledge, I collaborated with a blacksmith and cutler to apply experimental archaeology approaches to reconstruct the manufacturing process. Cold and hot hammering, casting, polishing and perforation have been tested. Stone tools were used, consisting mostly of hammers and abrasive stones. As a result, the experimental “ring idols” made of copper bear traces that can be compared with those on the archaeological artefacts.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
MARTIN 2023.pdf (8.41 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine Publication financée par une institution
Licence

Dates et versions

hal-04450570 , version 1 (14-02-2024)

Licence

Identifiants

Citer

Valentine Martin. Metal “Ring Idols”: a Material Approach to Metalworking in the Aegean Neolithic. Sympozjum Egejskie: 8th Conference in Aegean Archaeology, Stephanie Aulsebrook; Katarzyna Żebrowska; Agata Ulanowska, Jun 2021, Varsovie, Poland. pp.12-27, ⟨10.1484/M.WSA-EB.5.136578⟩. ⟨hal-04450570⟩
60 Consultations
27 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Mastodon Facebook X LinkedIn More