Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River region
The article examines non-ferrous metal products from the Baitovo Culture materials of the Early Iron Age hillfort of Marai 1. This settlement is located in the forest-steppe of the Ishim River region of Western Siberia. The upper building horizon marks the settlement of the Baitovo Culture dating to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Russian |
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Tyumen Scientific Centre SB RA
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Вестник археологии, антропологии и этнографии |
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| Online Access: | http://ipdn.ru/_private/a64/94-102.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827329424240934912 |
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| author | Tigeeva E.V. |
| author_facet | Tigeeva E.V. |
| author_sort | Tigeeva E.V. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The article examines non-ferrous metal products from the Baitovo Culture materials of the Early Iron Age hillfort of Marai 1. This settlement is located in the forest-steppe of the Ishim River region of Western Siberia. The upper building horizon marks the settlement of the Baitovo Culture dating to the 4th–2nd centuries BC. Metallographic analysis of 28 items was carried out using the Axio Observer D1m microscope (Zeiss). As a result, eight technological schemes characteristic for the metalworking activities of the Baitovo population have been identified. The study shows that prevailing were smithing technologies in different temperature regimes for the production of non-ferrous metal objects (16 specimens, 57.2 %). The preference was given to hot forging in the red-heat regime at 600–800°C (7 specimens, 25 %), cold forging with annealing (5 specimens, 17.8 %), as well as incomplete hot forging at 300–500°C (3 specimens, 10.7 %). Casting without further refinement was recorded in the microstructures of arrowheads, ingots and splashes (9 specimens, 14.2 %). Casting, followed by a slight degree of deformation (20–30 %), was noted in three cases. This scheme correlates with the metalworking traditions of the Itkul and Krasnoozerskaya Cultures, and it was dominant on the territory of the Tobol-Ishim region during the Early Iron Age. Such a low percentage of items related to it could be explained by the absence in Marai 1 of large items cast in moulds needing further refinement (knives, celts, etc.). A microstructural study confirmed the use of pure oxidized copper by the craftsmen of the Baitovo Culture, with characteristic inclusions of Cu–Cu2O eutectic, associated with the Ural production centres. Arrowheads and an ingot made of pure oxidized copper were probably a direct import from the territory of the Itkul Culture. Low-alloy tin and arsenic bronzes, coming from the metal production centres of Kazakhstan and Altai, were also used to the same extent for production of some tools and jewellery. The correlation between the type of product, composition of raw materials and technology of its manufacture has been revealed, which is most clearly manifested in arrowheads and awls. The use of high temperatures and significant degrees of compression (80–90 %) has been recorded in a number of cases, resulting in the appearance of rejects. Cracks of hot brittleness, as well as of cold brittleness, occurred in the process of technological cycle, carried out with an excess of the tensile strength of the metal. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:34:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16140f6b775040c9aaac525ba9b3176d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1811-7465 2071-0437 |
| language | Russian |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:34:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Tyumen Scientific Centre SB RA |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Вестник археологии, антропологии и этнографии |
| spelling | doaj.art-16140f6b775040c9aaac525ba9b3176d2024-03-05T11:48:51ZrusTyumen Scientific Centre SB RAВестник археологии, антропологии и этнографии1811-74652071-04372024-03-011(64)9410210.20874/2071-0437-2024-64-1-8Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River regionTigeeva E.V.0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2325-5415Tyumen Scientific Centre of Siberian Branch RASThe article examines non-ferrous metal products from the Baitovo Culture materials of the Early Iron Age hillfort of Marai 1. This settlement is located in the forest-steppe of the Ishim River region of Western Siberia. The upper building horizon marks the settlement of the Baitovo Culture dating to the 4th–2nd centuries BC. Metallographic analysis of 28 items was carried out using the Axio Observer D1m microscope (Zeiss). As a result, eight technological schemes characteristic for the metalworking activities of the Baitovo population have been identified. The study shows that prevailing were smithing technologies in different temperature regimes for the production of non-ferrous metal objects (16 specimens, 57.2 %). The preference was given to hot forging in the red-heat regime at 600–800°C (7 specimens, 25 %), cold forging with annealing (5 specimens, 17.8 %), as well as incomplete hot forging at 300–500°C (3 specimens, 10.7 %). Casting without further refinement was recorded in the microstructures of arrowheads, ingots and splashes (9 specimens, 14.2 %). Casting, followed by a slight degree of deformation (20–30 %), was noted in three cases. This scheme correlates with the metalworking traditions of the Itkul and Krasnoozerskaya Cultures, and it was dominant on the territory of the Tobol-Ishim region during the Early Iron Age. Such a low percentage of items related to it could be explained by the absence in Marai 1 of large items cast in moulds needing further refinement (knives, celts, etc.). A microstructural study confirmed the use of pure oxidized copper by the craftsmen of the Baitovo Culture, with characteristic inclusions of Cu–Cu2O eutectic, associated with the Ural production centres. Arrowheads and an ingot made of pure oxidized copper were probably a direct import from the territory of the Itkul Culture. Low-alloy tin and arsenic bronzes, coming from the metal production centres of Kazakhstan and Altai, were also used to the same extent for production of some tools and jewellery. The correlation between the type of product, composition of raw materials and technology of its manufacture has been revealed, which is most clearly manifested in arrowheads and awls. The use of high temperatures and significant degrees of compression (80–90 %) has been recorded in a number of cases, resulting in the appearance of rejects. Cracks of hot brittleness, as well as of cold brittleness, occurred in the process of technological cycle, carried out with an excess of the tensile strength of the metal.http://ipdn.ru/_private/a64/94-102.pdfmetallographic analysisearly iron agebaitovo culturewestern siberiax-ray fluorescence analysismanufacturing technology |
| spellingShingle | Tigeeva E.V. Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River region Вестник археологии, антропологии и этнографии metallographic analysis early iron age baitovo culture western siberia x-ray fluorescence analysis manufacturing technology |
| title | Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River region |
| title_full | Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River region |
| title_fullStr | Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River region |
| title_short | Metallographic study of non-ferrous metal products from the Maray 1 site of the Baitovo Culture in the Lower Ishim River region |
| title_sort | metallographic study of non ferrous metal products from the maray 1 site of the baitovo culture in the lower ishim river region |
| topic | metallographic analysis early iron age baitovo culture western siberia x-ray fluorescence analysis manufacturing technology |
| url | http://ipdn.ru/_private/a64/94-102.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tigeevaev metallographicstudyofnonferrousmetalproductsfromthemaray1siteofthebaitovocultureinthelowerishimriverregion |