Du métal allemand dans des mains françaises

Abstract

Archaeological excavations on a WW1 battlefield in Argonne (Servon-Melzicourt, France) led to the discover of a metallic sculpture representing a pipe-shaped soldier head. The stratigraphic position in a French trench of the first year of the war led to propose a hypothetical handicraft product origin considered as an uncommon Art-trench case. The head was analyzed with a XRF chemical study and compared with WW1-artillery items discovered on the same excavated area. It revealed that the pipe-head is made of a zamac alloy enriched with tungsten, that reflects specific alloy used during the war by German armament industries for compensating metallic shortages. Stylistic and manufacturing technical studies indicates an expert work that points out the high forge and sculpture knowledge of the statuary craftsman who could have recycled bombshell items on battlefield. Several technical characters restrict the interpretation as an Art-trench product, demonstrating the lack of knowledge and complexity of handicraft processes within the front area.

Keywords

• art-trench
• alloy
• XRF spectrometry
• World War I