Abstract
Six metal artifacts were recovered from the Chalcolithic site near Khirbat el-‘Umdan: four axes, a copper chunk and a broken macehead. Three of the axes and the macehead were chemically tested, allowing for a reconstruction of ancient metalwork, the materials used and the extent of trade relations during the Chalcolithic period. The chemical composition of the axes was found to be similar to that of other contemporary items, while the macehead is a copper-lead alloy, hitherto unknown in the period.
Keywords
Judean Shephelah, cult, metallurgy, metalwork, metal items, lead, copper
Recommended Citation
Vassal, Yitzhak; van den Brink, Edwin C.M.; and Ben Yosef, Erez
(2021)
"Metal Artifacts from Khirbat el-‘Umdan, Bet Shemesh: New Insights concerning the Ghassulian Metallurgy (Hebrew, pp. 13*–25*; English summary, p. 239),"
'Atiqot: Vol. 104, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040X.1913
Available at:
https://publications.iaa.org.il/atiqot/vol104/iss1/6
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