Bayley, JC; (1992) Non-ferrous metalworking in England: Late Iron Age to Early Medieval. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Evidence for non-ferrous metalworking in the late Iron Age to early medieval periods comes mainly from archaeological finds, though Roman and medieval writings supply some supporting information. A gazetteer of sites which have produced evidence for metalworking is provided and these finds are categorised and described together with details of the processes in which they were used or produced. The spatial and temporal distributions of finds of all types are also discussed and reasons suggested for some of the patterns that emerge. The processes for which evidence is presented include refining, alloying, melting, casting, smithing and decorating. The majority of the data derives from the working of copper and its alloys though gold, silver, lead, tin and their alloys are also covered. The uses made of different alloys throughout the period of the study is also discussed. A more detailed survey of Roman copper alloy usage is based on analyses of over 3,000 late Iron Age and Roman brooches and nearly 900 other objects. Nearly 1,000 of the brooch analyses were quantitative ones carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry while the remainder were qualitative X-ray fluorescence analyses. Many of the metalworking finds were also analysed qualitatively by X-ray fluorescence. These two strands of evidence are complementary and together provide a mass of evidence for how metals and alloys were worked and the uses that were made of them.

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