Raw Materials, Innovation, Technology of Ancient Cultures - RITaK / Frühe Prestigeobjekte aus Metall in Anatolien

This volume offers a comparative analysis of early prestige goods [late 4th and 3rd me B.C.] in Anatolia and inter-regionally in the Ancient Near East. The artefacts presented here [diadems, maceheads and sceptre-like objects, exceptional axes, daggers and so on] are attributed to higher-ranking social groups [elites], who used these prestige items for self-presentation and for communicating - and thereby enhancing - their status and prestige within their own and to other cultural groups.
In the Late Chalcolithic, technological and cultural innovations are reflected in the first appearance of special artefacts [e.g. swords], production techniques [e.g. silver damascening] and in the targeted use of special metals and alloys. In the course of the Early Bronze Age, elites were furnished with more status indicators and prestige goods, as well as magico-religious artefacts, which evidently functioned as signs for social hierarchy.
In addition, an interdisciplinary study based on the metal objects from two Anatolian sites, Ikiztepe and Alacahöyük, aimed to elucidate the use of ore sources. Contact between the Anatolian Black Sea coast [Ikiztepe] and south-east Anatolia [Arslantepe] is archaeologically traceable via Late Chalcolithic metal artefacts, a pattern which can be corroborated using lead isotopic and chemical analyses. At the very least, there could have been a [sporadic] exchange of ideas, techniques and raw materials [metals].
In addition, lead isotope data for the copper-based and silver artefacts from the Early Bronze Age royal tombs at Alacahöyük could be analysed.
Regarding the provenance of these items, it seems that several ore sources were used, as suggested by the wide scatter of lead isotope measurements. Contacts and interactions suggested on the basis of archaeological material also indicate the contemporary exploitation of different ore sources.
 
In dieser Arbeit wurden frühe Prestigeobjekte [spätes 4. Jt. und 3. Jt. v.Chr.] in Anatolien sowie überregional im Alten Orient vergleichend betrachtet. Die vorgestellten Artefakte [Diademe, Keulen und zepterähnliche Objekte, Prunkbeile, Dolche etc.] werden den sozial führenden Gesellschaftsschichten [Eliten] zugeschrieben, die sich mit diesen Prestigeobjekten nach außen präsentieren, ihren Status und ihr Prestige innerhalb der eigenen und gegenüber anderen Kulturgruppen darstellen und steigern konnten. Im späten Chalkolithikum zeigen sich technische und kulturelle Innovationen im erstmaligen Auftreten besonderer Artefakte [z. B. Schwerter], Herstellungstechniken [z. B. Silbertauschierungen] sowie der gezielten Verwendung spezieller Metalle bzw. Legierungen. Im Laufe der Frühbronzezeit wurden die Eliten mit mehr Statusgütern und Prestigegütern sowie kultisch-rituellen Artefakten ausgestattet, welche offensichtlich Zeichen einer Hierarchie sind. In einer interdisziplinären Studie wurde zudem versucht, anhand von Metallobjekten aus zwei Fundorten Anatoliens, Ikiztepe und Alacahöyük, gezielt den Zugriff auf Erzlagerstätten zu beleuchten. Der Kontakt zwischen der anatolischen Schwarzmeerküste [Ikiztepe] und dem Südosten Anatoliens [Arslantepe], zeigt sich im späten Chalkolithikum einerseits archäologisch anhand von Metallartefakten, andererseits scheint sich dies auch in den bleiisotopischen und chemischen Analysen zu bestätigen. Es könnte zumindest einen [sporadischen] Austausch von Ideen, Techniken und Rohstoffen [Metalle] gegeben haben. Für die frühbronzezeitlichen Königsgräber von Alacahöyük konnten bleiisotopische Daten von kupferbasierten Artefakten und Silberobjekten ausgewertet werden. Bezüglich der Herkunft der Artefakte deutet sich eine Nutzung von mehreren Lagerstätten an, was durch die weite Verteilung der bleiisotopischen Daten naheliegt. Kontakte und Interaktionen, die sich aufgrund des archäologischen Materials andeuten, lassen ebenfalls auf den gleichzeitigen Zugriff auf unterschiedliche Erzvorkommen schließen.

This volume offers a comparative analysis of early prestige goods [late 4th and 3rd me B.C.] in Anatolia and inter-regionally in the Ancient Near East. The artefacts presented here [diadems, maceheads and sceptre-like objects, exceptional axes, daggers and so on] are attributed to higher-ranking social groups [elites], who used these prestige items for self-presentation and for communicating - and thereby enhancing - their status and prestige within their own and to other cultural groups.
In the Late Chalcolithic, technological and cultural innovations are reflected in the first appearance of special artefacts [e.g. swords], production techniques [e.g. silver damascening] and in the targeted use of special metals and alloys. In the course of the Early Bronze Age, elites were furnished with more status indicators and prestige goods, as well as magico-religious artefacts, which evidently functioned as signs for social hierarchy.
In addition, an interdisciplinary study based on the metal objects from two Anatolian sites, Ikiztepe and Alacahöyük, aimed to elucidate the use of ore sources. Contact between the Anatolian Black Sea coast [Ikiztepe] and south-east Anatolia [Arslantepe] is archaeologically traceable via Late Chalcolithic metal artefacts, a pattern which can be corroborated using lead isotopic and chemical analyses. At the very least, there could have been a [sporadic] exchange of ideas, techniques and raw materials [metals].
In addition, lead isotope data for the copper-based and silver artefacts from the Early Bronze Age royal tombs at Alacahöyük could be analysed.
Regarding the provenance of these items, it seems that several ore sources were used, as suggested by the wide scatter of lead isotope measurements. Contacts and interactions suggested on the basis of archaeological material also indicate the contemporary exploitation of different ore sources.