Association of Metallurgical Engineers of Serbia Scientific paper AME UDC:669.1-4”09/19”:904(437.13)=20 THE METALLOGRAPHY OF IRON OBJECTS FROM SEMONICE STRONGHOLD IN THE LIGHT OF STUDIED FORGED PIECES FROM MEDIEVAL STRONGHOLDS, VILLAGES AND TOWNS

Metallographic examinations of twenty two objects connected to agricultural life at the stronghold in Semonice (13th to 14th century) are evaluated in a first part of the paper. Tools like axes, knives and the timber shave were carefully fitted with welded-on steel edges; only one knife blade is completely made of steel. One sickle has a welded-on steel blade, the others are iron. Moreover, one of the two borers was provided with steel welded-on cutting edges, the second one has a spiral-shaped serrated part which is practically completely of steel. It was nonetheless welded from several rods. Steel was surprisingly lavishly used in the manufacture of the horse-shoes; two out of three of them were improved. In the case of the shears the construction is not sufficiently clear. An evaluation of the heat treatment of the Semonice objects is not possible (fire at the site), but originally they must have been quenched, and if not all of them, then at least most of them. The construction of the tools and implements was good, even if the steel of the edges was not of very good quality. The worst group of implements compared to the pieces from the other sites- were the sickles. The processing of the results of the chemical microanalysis of the slag inclusions of the Semonice objects was also part of the study briefly mentioned in the paper. The second part of the paper brings an overview and broad discussion devoted to forged tools which have come from the archaeological finds of Bohemian and Moravian medieval towns, villages, strongholds and castles. An attempt has been made to mutually compare the forged pieces and complete assemblages from these individual environments bearing in mind the current state of research. Key words: Semonice- metallographic examinations- medieval tool-making – medieval town – village – stronghold – castl