Archaeometrical investigations of finds found in the Late Avar age bloomery workshops at Bátaszék-Nagyorros (County Tolna, Hungary)

Réka GYÖRKE
(University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)

Keywords: Bloomery, Late avar, Hungary, Archaeometrical analysis

Abstract:
The goal of our archaeometallurgical research is to process the material of archaeomatallurgical sites by interdisciplinary methods and make them available for research, creating appropriate bases in Hungary for more comprehensive processes relating to metallurgy of iron and archeology.
In the Hungarian Transdanubia, more than 50 Late Avar age and Early Middle age archeological sites connected to iron metallurgy are known. In Bátaszék some Avar age blommery workshops were bloomery excavated in 2008. The purpose of the research is to demonstrate the activities of the iron-metallurgists in Hungary during the Late Avar period (AD 8-9th century) through complex analysis.
Based on the natural science analysis of the iron slag the iron-slag typology, the 7-9th century furnace typology, the reconstruction of the work-organization, the technology of the utilization of minerals and the quality of ores will be presented. The analyses shall be carried out at the Department of Mineralogy, Geochemsitry and Petrology, University of Szeged, headed by Dr. Krisztián Fintor.
Using geographical information methods we illustrate the physical-geographical and geological environment of the site, which enables that Avar age iron-metallurgy sites can be represented on the map.
The archaeometrical analysis of the finds from the Migration and Early Middle ages raise questions of social and economic history. Archaeometallurgy analysis is required to create a true picture on the technical-technological background of the activities in iron metallurgy, namely the analysis of the chemical composition of the finds.
„The research was carried out within the frames of the special project “National Excellence Program – The convergence program for the development of the system providing personal support for domestic students and researchers” ID TÁMOP 4.2.4.A/2-11-1-2012-0001. The project is implemented with the support of the European Union and the European Social Fund.”