THE ALCHEDAT I BARROW’S BRONZES AND THE TESIN STAGE OF THE TAGAR CULTURE METALLURGY IN THE MARIINSK FOREST-STEPPE

Abstract

The paper presents the results of atomic-emission analysis of the elemental composition of the bronze originating from the northwestern Tagar culture area and dating by the Tesin stage. The mass analysis of the Tesin bronzes from this region were obtained for the first time. It has proved the predominance of arsenic copper and arsenic copper with tin addition in Alchedat I’s bronzes. Alchedat I’s set of bronze recipes differs from Minusinsk Tesin metal, where mainly arsenic and tin-arsenic bronzes have been discovered. Another specific feature of the Mariinsk bronzes was revealed at the presence of several Tagar knives produced from the lead-arsenic bronze which is most characteristic of the metallurgical centers in the Baikal region of the Hun time. Another attractive peculiarity of Alchedat I’s copper is the constant presence of tin concentrations at metal. Perhaps it should be explained by the practice of the secondary smelting of the bronze wares that could be withdrawn from the earlier burials.

Keywords

• elemental composition of bronzes
• emission analysis
• types of copper based alloys
• the tagar culture
• the tesin stage
• the mariinsk forest-steppe