A non destructive view into Neolithic bronze axes

Results from an ongoing research project of the archaeological state museum chateau Gottorf in Schleswig and the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron in Hamburg are presented. The manufacturing techniques of Neolithic bronze axes were investigated using non destructive measurements. Storage ring based techniques as X-ray diffraction in transmission and reflection geometry were used to investigate effects of cast and post cast treatment of bronze axes, while in parallel X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used to monitor the stoichiometric bronze distribution of the objects. Measuring the effects they have on bronze axes open questions of the use of stone tools were addressed [1,2]. Comparing measurements of reproduced bronze axes with those of historic origin the replicated objects could be iteratively be improved, verifying the manufacturing process. The replicates were cast in a modern casting process with sand and clay molds in the fondry museum “Howaldtsche Metallgiesserei e.V.” (Kiel, Germany) and with a quasi neolithic casting process at chateau Gottorf. The measurements were performed in Hamburg at the DESY storage rings DORIS and PETRA using Beamlines BW5, G3, L, P02, P07 and W2.Besides the answers to the archaeological questions the experiments lead to the discovery of a faked 19th century hoard find which unsuspiciously had been on display in the museum since 150 years [3]. [1] M. Freudenberg, Normes techniques et pratiques sociales: de la simplicité des outillages pré- et proto-historiques, 2006, 313-320. [2] M. Freudenberg, Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 39,2009, 341-359. [3] M. Freudenberg, L. Glaser, Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt XX,2015, (article in press)