Celtic iron in the Danube area

Research project P 13898 Celtic iron in the Danube area Otto H. URBAN 28.06.1999 The new findings of the four depots of iron goods from Linz-Gründberg should be scintificly investigated as a part of this project. We will take one to three samples from each iron object and will make a micro analytic analysis by a micro sonde and metallographic examination of each sample. The studies would be interesting, because the finds of Gründberg are complexes of over 40 various pieces of equipment, tools, weapons etc., that were brought here at the same time. These finds can be dated approximatly to the first century BC and will give us information about the working areas for wrought iron or smithies in the region around Linz. Some special finds from other places in Lower Austria and Slovakia should be examined in the same way. Some selected single finds should be thoroughly examined, especially sickles and scythes, too. The combination of the results of all these examinations could give us new informations about the techniques of hammering iron all over the region of Danube and the Carpathians. So far such investigations have never been made on such closed find as the one from Linz-Gründberg, but often on specific single find objects (mostly swords), that came from different places. The objects of Linz-Gründberg consist of tools for working wood or iron, but there are also weapons, household utensils or parts of wheels, Therefore the scientific investigations that are to be made can give us information about different iron working techniques like smithing, tempering, carburizing and quenching. Because today we don`t know which different techniques the celtic blacksmithes knew. We think they might have used different raw materials and techniques for producing special products, a. g. blades, iron bindings of wheels or anvils. The results of the investigations could be used for international comparison, should be discussed interdisciplinarily and will give us some information about techniques and methods of Celtic ironworking and the economy of the first century BC.

The new findings of the four depots of iron goods grom Linz-Gründberg were scientificly investigated as part of tis project. There werde taken one to three samples from 30 iron objects and there werde made micro anylytic analysis by a micro sonde and there was an metallographic examination of each sample. There studies werde very interesting because the finds of Gründberg are complexes of 40 various pieces of equipment, tools, weapons etc., that werde brought here at the same time. The finds could be dates to the first century BC an gave us informations about the working areas for wrought iropn or smithies in the region around Linz. The results of the various examinations gave us information about the techniques of hammering iropn all over the region of Danube and the Carpathians. So far such investigations had never been made on such closed finds as the one from Linz-Gründberg. The objects of Linz-Gründberg consist of tolls for working wood or iropn, but there are also weapons, household utensils or parts of wheels. Therefore the scientific investigations that werde made gave us information about different iron workin techniques like smithing, tempering, carburizing and quenching. The investigation have also shown us that there werde used different raw materials and techniques for producing special products, a.g. blades, iron bindings of wheels or anvils. The results if the investigations could be used for an international comparison an could give us some information about techniques and methods of Celtic ironworking and the economy of the first century BC.