Identifying the stone toolkit of Copper Age and Bronze Age metallurgists: A new contribution from use-wear and XRF analysis carried out on experimental tests

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Use-wear analysis of stone tools involved in metallurgical processes is a recent field of research within functionalanalysis. In order to consolidate the methodological framework of such research, experiments were carried outon the production of copper and bronze objects. Several production steps were tested, on the basis of archaeologicalquestions relating to sites dated from the 3rd and the 2nd millennium BC in north-west Europe. Thecrushing of copper ore was tested in order to compare use-wear traces created by three different actions: breakingblock, fragmenting into small pieces and grinding into powder. In addition, various parts of a test group of copperand tin bronze axeheads and daggers were shaped by hammering: this hammering involved deburring andregularization of the sides of the axeheads and daggers, as well as thinning out the cutting edges immediatelyafter casting or at a later stage. Finally, the sides and edges of the copper and bronze axeheads were abraded andpolished. The combination of use-wear and XRF analysis of the tools involved in this series of experimentsconsolidates the methodological background of the functional analysis of stone tools. They allow better differentiationof wear traces resulting from the processing of ores within the broader spectrum of hard mineralmaterials. They also raise questions about the preservation of metal residues on the surface of stone toolsdepending on the different activities carried out. Finally, the distinction between copper and bronze objects isalso discussed. Examples of the analysis of various metallurgists’ stone tools from the Early Bronze in north-westEurope support the demonstration.