Materials for the Study of Items from Non-Ferrous and Precious Metals of Selitrennoe Settlement: Chemical Composition

Abstract

Introduction. This paper presents the results of the study of the chemical composition of nonferrous and precious metal items from the excavations of the Selitrennoe settlement by the Volga Region Archaeological Expedition in 1986–1989 stored in the State Historical Museum. Methods and materials. XRF was used as a method of determining the elemental composition; the main technological operations were determined using the trasology method. A total of 63 subjects were analyzed, including domestic items, jewelry and items related to production. Analysis and Results. The alloys have been distinguished depending on the presence and concentration of alloying elements: brass (two-component, tin, lead, multicomponent), bronzes (tin, lead, leadarsenic, tin-lead, tin-zinc, and multicomponent) and silver alloys (multicomponent high silver bronzes and goldsilver alloy). Inclusions of soldering with silver in the solder and gilding according to the amalgamation have been also recorded. The results of the analysis show the prevalence of two-component brass and multicomponent alloys, a small amount of tin bronzes and the complete absence of items from “pure” metals – copper, tin and lead. The common practice of using recycled metal can be judged by the relatively low content of zinc in brass and a large proportion of multicomponent alloys. Despite the presence of distinguishable stable groups, a wide range of concentrations suggests the absence of clear recipes, including for certain categories of objects. The dependence of the applied technology on the composition of metal is also revealed. The sample of the Selitrennoe settlement is significantly different from other large series of analyses of the Golden Horde time (Bolgar Region, Uvek and its neighborhood).