• Marianna A. Kulkova
  • Alexander Yu. Skakov
  • Alexander M. Kulkov
  • Maya T. Kashuba
  • Maryia N. Vetrova
During the 2nd and 1st millennia BCE in the Caucasus region, there was a bloom of different metal production. The melting copper and bronze production in Colchis was developed in the transition period from the Bronze to Iron Ages as well as in the period of the Early Iron Age. The precise analytic methods (SEM–EDX, pXRF, XRD) were applied for the determination of geochemical and mineralogical compositions of iron axes and iron slags from the Dzhankhut site. The mineralogical and chemical composition of the iron axes from ground burial of the 5the and 4the centuries BCE allows conclusions about the production technology and sources of raw materials. It was found that iron alloys are rich in sulfides, such as pyrite, chalcopyrite and bronze alloy prills. The comparison of trace elemental compositions of both bronze and iron slags with the iron axes allows suggestions about using sulfide ore or bronze slags for iron axes making. These investigations of axes showed also non utilitarian use of tools.
Translated title of the contributionМеталлургия железа древней Колхиды: минеральный и геохимический состав шлаков и изделий с памятника Джантух
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGeoarchaeology and Archaeological Mineralogy—2021
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of 8th Geoarchaeological Conference
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages237-253
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9783031165443
ISBN (Print)9783031165436
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Publication series

NameSpringer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences

    Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Science(all)
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
  • Archaeology

    Research areas

  • Dzhantukh site, SEM–EDX slags, pXRF, Geochemistry of iron slags, Colchis cultural traditions, Iron artifacts, SULFIDE ORES, Magnetite ores, Caucasus, Sulfide ores

ID: 107007185