Composition of Metal Fibulae from the Middle Kama Region (based on the materials of the Udmurt State University collection)

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of a group of fibulae from the burial grounds of the Kama-Vyatka region. Because of bad condition, it was possible to establish the composition of a metal alloy for 67 of 262 artifacts. Most of them (56) were made of brass (alloy of copper and zinc). This fact is due to the practice of using broken metal things for re-melting and re-use. Comparison of the types of alloys and dates of fibulae showed a tendency to increase bronze products (alloy of copper with lead or tin) at the turn of the 4th – 5th centuries AD. The author supposes that most likely raw materials for such products could fall into the Kama region in the form of ingots, which is a kind of prototype of money. The composition of some of them, found in the Tarasovo burial ground, has a classic lead-tin bronze recipe.

Keywords

• archaeology
• fibulae
• import
• Middle Kama region
• the Pyany Bor community
• the Mazunino culture
• metal composition
• X-ray fluorescence analysis
• metal alloys