Into the crucible : methodological approaches to reconstructing crucible metallurgy, from New Kingdom Egypt to Late Roman Thrace
The subject of this PhD thesis is the study of ancient metallurgical crucible assemblages, with a particular focus on the methodological framework for such studies. This is approached through three case studies from the eastern Mediterranean: Qantir â Pi-Ramesse (Ramesside Egypt, 13th century BC), Gordion (Late Phrygian/Achaemenid Anatolia, 6th-4th century BC) and Nicopolis/Philippopolis/Serdica/Stara Zagora (Roman Thrace, 2nd-5th century AD). For each of these three case studies, the metallurgical activities are reconstructed and contextualised. This involves determining the technical processes, material use and organisation of metal production both on the site and regional scale. No relation exists between these sites and each case study stands on its own: results from the technological reconstruction are interpreted within their particular archaeological and regional/historical context, to which they offer novel contributions. The main research material consists of crucible remains, and to a lesser extent metal remains, which are investigated using optical microscopy and SEM(-EDS) to establish the technological processes and material use. The applicability of handheld XRF for such reconstructions is evaluated
Rademakers, F.
Into the crucible : methodological approaches to reconstructing crucible metallurgy, from New Kingdom Egypt to Late Roman Thrace. The subject of this PhD thesis is the study of ancient metallurgical crucible assemblages, with a particular focus on the methodological framework for such studies. This is approached through three case studies from the eastern Mediterranean: Qantir â Pi-Ramesse (Ramesside Egypt, 13th century BC), Gordion (Late Phrygian/Achaemenid Anatolia, 6th-4th century BC) and Nicopolis/Philippopolis/Serdica/Stara Zagora (Roman Thrace, 2nd-5th century AD). For each of these three case studies, the metallurgical activities are reconstructed and contextualised. This involves determining the technical processes, material use and organisation of metal production both on the site and regional scale. No relation exists between these sites and each case study stands on its own: results from the technological reconstruction are interpreted within their particular archaeological and regional/historical context, to which they offer novel contributions. The main research material consists of crucible remains, and to a lesser extent metal remains, which are investigated using optical microscopy and SEM(-EDS) to establish the technological processes and material use. The applicability of handheld XRF for such reconstructions is evaluated
crucible methodological_approach reconstruct crucible metallurgy new_kingdom_egypt late_roman thrace subject phd_study ancient metallurgical crucible assemblage particular_focus methodological_framework study approach three_case_study eastern_mediterranean egypt late achaemenid anatolia th__century roman thrace three_case_study metallurgical activity reconstruct contextualised involves determine technical process material use organisation metal_production site regional_scale relation exist sit case_study stand technological reconstruction interpret within particular archaeological regional historical_context offer_novel contribution main material consist crucible remains less_extent metal remain investigate use optical_microscopy sem_eds establish technological process material use applicability xrf reconstruction evaluate