Stone casting molds from the multilayered settlement of Siniye Skaly in Primorye: interdisciplinary approach to studying heat residue

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Abstract

The paper presents research on heat residue in stone casting molds unearthed at the multilayered settlement Siniye Skaly in Eastern Primorye region. The study is aimed at the detection and interpretation of the features determined by metal-casting technology. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence portable spectrometry were applied to the investigation of considered stone molds for the first time. The surface texture and elemental composition of heat residues were investigated. As a result, traces of Cu-Sn-Pb alloys were detected as well as certain evidence of special surface covering, presumably of animal origin, improving casting quality. The data obtained make it possible to clarify the significance and place of the stone casting molds from Siniye Skaly in the context of ancient metalworking in the south of the Russian Far East.

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About the authors

Irina S. Zhushchikhovskaya

Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology of Peoples of Far East of the Far East Branch of the RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: irina1zh@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Vladivostok

I. Yu. Buravlev

Far Eastern Federal University

Email: buravlev_igor@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Vladivostok

N. A. Kluyev

Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology of Peoples of Far East of the Far East Branch of the RAS

Email: kluyev2006@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Vladivostok

T. A. Emelyanova

Pacific Oceanological Institute of the Far East Branch of the RAS

Email: emelyanova@poi.dvo.ru
Russian Federation, Vladivostok

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2. Fig. 1. The Siniye Skaly settlement. Test series of stone casting molds (1–10).

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3. Fig. 2. The Siniye Skaly settlement. Texture and microrelief of areas with heat residue on casting molds. Optical microscopy images (50×) of molds 7 (1) and 4 (2); SEM micrographs (400–500×) of molds 4 (3) and 7 (4).

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4. Fig. 3. The Siniye Skaly settlement. SEM micrograph (500×) of the surface area of mold 6 with heat residue, in the centre – a white impurity with a high tin content (1) and an EDS spectrum of the impurity (2).

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