Lepeshkinsky Complex of Bronzes from Tagar Burial Site Serebryakovo I in the Mariinsk Forest-Steppe: the elemental composition of the metal

Abstract

The present article introduces an elemental composition analysis of copper and bronze alloys from the burials of the Lepeshkinsky Stage of the Tagar culture, burial site Serebryakovo I in the Kiya-Chulym interfluve. The research featured mounds 2, 12, and 16, which date back to 3–1 centuries B.C. The metal composition of 72 items was investigated by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP AES). The obtained data were subjected to statistical processing, which revealed seven chemical-metallurgical and metallurgical groups of copper-based alloys. The bronze alloys did not depend on the typology of the tools, i.e. knives, engravings, mirrors, deer plaques, etc. The results confirmed the dating of the Lepeshkinsky site between the Saragashensky and the Tesinsky Stages of the Tagar culture. The items revealed a tendency towards a decrease in the proportion of tin bronzes and average concentrations of tin ligatures. The study proved that archaeometallurgical data can help to determine the relative-chronological position of the Tagar culture burial complexes.

Keywords

• lepeshkinsky stage
• copper-bronze inventory
• typology
• elemental composition
• metallurgical group of alloys