IRON PRODUCTION AND IRON VOTIVE OFFERINGS AT BORGO LE FERRIERE/SATRICUM
(8TH TO 6TH CENTURTES BC)
A.J. N IJBOER
Vakgroep Archeo/vflie. Cml/il/flel/. Nether/al/ds
ABSTRACT: The iron votive offerings from Votive Deposit I at Satricum (8th to 6th centuries BC) are presented in
combination with the evidence for loeal iron production. The introduetion of iron production in Central Italy is briefly
diseussed in order to establish a frarnework for the situation encountered at Satrieum. This is supplemented by
metallographic analyses of some of the 7th century BC iron artefacts from the settlement excavations. The paper is
completed by an appendix recording all the iron artefacts known from Satricum.
KEYWORDS: Tron, produetion, iron votive offerings, Satricum, Italy, Orientalizing period.
I.
senburg, 1994: pp. 79. 89, 433). The majority of iron
artefacts is found in Votive Deposit [ (see figs 2 to 8).�
Among the objects in Votive Deposit I are iron daggers,
swords. knives. axes, sickles, spears. shafts, pins, bars,
nails. rings, fibulae, pendants and bracelets. The amount
of iron tools in this deposit is indicative for the prevalence
of iron tools over copper alloy lools since hardly any
eopper alloy tools are recoverecl. Due to the fact that
iron tools are oUlnumbering copper alloy tools by at
Ieast the middle of the 7th century Be. it ean be
concluded that by that period iron lools have replaced
Cu-alloy lools at Satrieum.
The inlroduction of iron knives is usually considered
to be a transitional stage towards a full-fledged Iron
Age when iron tools have superseded Cu-alloy tools.
This intermediate stage is well documented at exca­
vations of the latial necropolis of Osteria dell'Osa.
Bietti Sestieri noticed that from 770 BC onwards all
knives were made of iron. While in the previous period
(c. 900 to 770 BC), iron knives are rare and appear to
have been part of exceptional tombs. this is no longer
the case during the folIowing periods (Bietti Sestieri,
1992: p. 398).
T will first briefly discuss the introduction of iron
production in Central Italy in order to establish a
frarnework for the situation eneountered at Satricum.
The second topie to be presented is the aetual evidenee
for the manufaeture of iron artefacts at Satricum. The
smithing slags will be diseussed in more detail and this
section is supplemented by metallographic analyses of
some. of the iron artefacts from Ihe settlement. This
topic is followed by an actual aecount of the iron
artefacts attributed to Votive Deposit I and an epilogue.
The paper is completed by an appendix recording all the
iron artefacts from Satricum.
INTRODUCTION
The proto-historic settlement at Borgo Le Ferriere.
from now on referred to by its supposedly ancient name
of Satricum. has been excavated since 1977 by the
University of Groningen (Maaskant-Kleibrink. 1987:
1992).1 These excavations have revealed many data
among which evidenee for the production of iron
artefacts from the middle of the 7th century BC onwards
(Nijboer. in prep. a). This activity at the settlement can
not be linked directly to output or to a variety of iron
objects since the number of iron aJ1efacts from the
settlement excavations is limited. Nevertheless. during
diggings a century ago, many iron objeets were
excavated from both the Tron Age necropolis and Votive
Deposit I (8th to 6th century BC).
The neeropolis was recently published by Waar­
senburg (1994). Unfortunately he did not doeument the
iron artefacts eomprehensively due to their state of
preservation. Waarsenburg writes that "although the
Northwest Neeropolis has produeed a fair amount of
iron weaponry and utensils, most pieces have deeayed
beyond reeognition" (p. 432). The complete content of
Votive Deposit I, still awaits a final publication.
This paper intends to relate the evidenee for the iron
manipulation at the site with the iron artefacts actually
known, since this would give some indications about
the range of artefacts produced.
The distribution of the iron objeets in the various
contexts (votive deposit, necropolis and settlement: see
appendix) in a period that iron was still considered
valuable, is significant. In the settlement hardly any
metal artefacts have been recovered, while in the Tron
Age necropolis Cu-alloy artefacts are found side by
side with iron objects though from 725 BC onwards
iron weaponry was fairly common at Satrieum (Waar-
89
90
A.J. Nijboer
2. IRON PRODUCTION IN CENTRAL ITALY
The development of iron technology ean be described
as three stages (Snodgrass, 1980: pp. 3 36-337):
- The first stage constitutes the produetion of iron
ornaments;
- The second stage is marked by the introduetion of
iron tools with sharp cutting edges; however, in a
smaller quantity than similar Cu-alloy tools;
- The third and final stage is identified by the
prevalence of iron tools over Cu-alloy tools.
In the same article, Snodgrass continues in a review on
the introduetion of iron in various regions of the
Mediterranean: "Etruria may havemoved to theadoption
of iron somewhat later (from 800-760 BC onwards)
than parts of southern Italy but in the end more
comprehensively".
Hartmann, who has examined the iron artefacts of
southern Etruria from the 9th and 8th century BC,
noticed that at Veii during the first half of the 8th
century, iron was almost exc1usively used for omaments.
He therefore accentuates the role of the 8th century BC
iron ornaments not only from Veii but also from
Tarquinia and Rome (Hartmann, 1985: pp. 285-289). In
his opinion iron technology was introduced by the
Greeks which he exemplifies by the excavation of a
metal-working quarter at Pithekoussai dated to the
second half of the 8th and the beginning of the 7th
century BC (a.o. Klein, 1972: pp. 34-39).
The perception of the introduction of iron metallurgy
in Latium is less definite due to the smaller amounts of
iron objects recovered during excavations. According
to Snodgrass ( 1980: p. 362), "the adoption of iron in
Latium seems to haveoccurred detectably later: working
iron is rare before the 7th century, and even then it only
slowly displaces bronze as a practical metal". This view
can no longer be supported by the evidence from
Satricum, nor from other sites in Latium like Castel di
Decima, Osteria dell 'Osa and Caracupa. The use of iron
artefacts steadily increased in Latium during the 8th
century BC and did not start with stage I (the produetion
of iron ornaments). From the 8th century BC onwards
iron knives were available as well as iron ornaments.
This combined use of iron for both tools and ornaments,
is also characteristic for the 7 century BC (fig. 2). The
contents of the tombs at Castel di Decima, which date
from the second half of the 8th century BC onwards,
refJect the rapid development of the use of iron in
Latium. Tomb 15, for example, which dates from just
before 700 BC, contained knives, a sword, spearheads,
a spit and parts of a chariot, all made of iron (Zevi et al.,
1975: p. 25 1). Further evidence of the early use of iron
in Latium are the artefacts that were found in the 8th and
7th century graves in the necropolis at Caracupa. These
included knives, spits, daggers, swords and fibulae
(Savignoni & Mengarelli, 1903: p. 289). For the
distribution of iron artefacts over the extensive, latial
lron Age necropolis of Osteria dell'Osa, I refer to the
well documented publication of Bietti-Sestieri ( 1992).
In order to study the introduetion of iron as a separate
material group at Satricum, the iron artefacts dated to
the lron Age and belonging to the three different
archaeological contexts are presented in the figures 2 to
8 and in the appendix.
3. MANUFACTURE OF IRON ARTEFACTS AT
SATRICUM
Many smithing slags were recovered during the exca­
vations on the acropolis. These slags ean be c1assified as
(SperI, 1980: pp. 14- 19; Bachmann, 1982: pp. 1-6, 3034; Tylecote, 1987: pp. 3 10-32 1):
a. Plano-convex shaped smithing hearth bottoms,
magnetic;
b. Smaller, relatively light and porous, non-magnetic
slags, metallurgical waste produet of slag, ash and sandi
vitrified fuel ash or cinder;
c. Smithing slag lumps;
d. Molten slag with traces of furnace/hearth lining.
The distribution of these slags on the acropolis at
Satricum, is presented in figure l . Two aspects have to
be specified. First, that this map shows the concentrations
of iron slags indicating three major concentrations, the
oldest of which is dated to the second half of the 7th
century Be. Secondly, I would like to mention the
continuity of metallurgical activities at the site which is
demonstrated by the various stratigraphical layers from
which the concentrations originated. These could be
dated from the 7th till the 4th century Be. However,
most of the slags are found in the concentrations located
at B I l and E 19 and are dated to the late 7th and early 6th
century Be.
Besides the smithing slags, the excavation of an area
south of the tempie (square B 18) yielded a metal and
pottery c1uster. This c1uster inc1uded a copper alloy
vessel, bowl, bracelet and fibula, as well as iron axes,
knives and a piece of raw, unworked iron (a bloom or
billet). The associated pottery was hucchero, a black
burnished carinated impasto bowl, fragments of a stand
of impasto rosso, impasto jars and an impasto amphora
decorated with a double spiral, all dating to the middle
of the 7th century Be. These objects were recovered in
the settlement area of the excavation, though the exact
context is not yet published. However, the direct con­
text of this assemblage, implies trade and produetion of
metal artefacts (Nijboer, 1994: p. 9).
Several of the iron objects recovered at the settlement
have been examined metallographically. Two knives
and two axes were analysed as well as a raw iron nodu1e.
With tre exception of one knife, these items were part
ofthe metal concentration in square B 18 and are therefore
dated around 650 Be. Knife S4607 is also dated to
approx. 650 Be.
The core of knife S4607 did consist of a medium to
high carbon steel with a hardness of 280 HV (Vickers
91
Iran af Borgo Le FerrierelSafricum
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011 the Acrapolis.
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micro hardness test). Two samples from the back of this
knife had a lower carbon content and were less hard
( 150- 167 HV).
Knife S5030 had a medium to high carbon steel
cutting edge with a hardness of 292 HV.
The cutting-edge ofaxe S5030 was made of a medium
to high carbon steel while the hardness varied from 245
to 290 HV. In one of the samples from this axe evidence
for quenching was found. The blade and the socket did
consist either of ferrite or phosphoric iron and were
much less hard.
Axe S5099 had a low carbon steel and ferrite cutting
edge and was relatively soft ( 135 to 187 HV).
On the basis of the metallographic examination it can
be concluded that in the 7th century BC not all the
parameters of smelting and smithing were fully
controlled though the smiths were working with con­
siderable skil\. Various types of 'iron' were used for
different parts of the objects. This can be observed best
in knife S4607, where the core, tang (and most likely the
cutting edge as well) consisted of a medium carbon steel
(as these parts have to be hard) and the back of the blade
had been constructed of phosphoric and ferritic iron, as
this part had to be more flexible and tough. Nevertheless
a general absence of evidence for quenching was
observed, though one sample (the above mentioned axe
S5030) did indicate relatively rapid cooling.
The hardness of the artefacts was regarded sufficient
for their function. Various parts of the iron artefacts that
were examined, had a hardness around 280-290 Hv,
which is harder than is recorded for Cu-alloys (Scott,
1991: pp. 82-83; Coghlan, 1975: pp. 75-83). Quenched
steel though, can obtain hardness figures up to 700-800
HV.
Analyses of the bloom/billet (S5030-3) showed that
parts were of a hyper-eutectoid steel with more than
0.8% carbon while SEM-EDX analyses of two slag­
inclusions in the bloom demonstrated that phosphorus
(up to 2%) and manganese (up to 2%) were present in
significant quantities indicating the use of phosphorus
and manganese bearing iron ores (for a more complete
report on the metallographic examination, see Abbingh
et a\., in prep.).
4. IRON ARTEFACTS FROM VOTIVE DEPOSIT I
(8th to 6th century BC)
Votive Deposit I at Satricum has always been considered
exceptional when compared with other early Votive
Deposits in Latium. This is based on the enormous
quantity of artefacts recovered, their high technical
quality and the variety of objects. Therefore, the oldest
Votive Deposit excavated at Satricum is considered to
be one of the richest deposits of Latium (e.g. Satricum
1985: p. 97; Bouma, in prep.). Although this deposit
was excavated about a century ago, it has unfortunately
not been published completely.
Traditionally, Votive Deposit I is dated from 725 to
540 Be. This date is based on the early proto-corinthian
pottery of the deposit (late 8th century BC) and the
building of the first monumental tempie, known as
tempie I (dated to approx. 540 BC). The traditional
reconstruction of this votive deposit strongly rests on
Greek secondary votive deposits which have been
interpreted as a clearing of votives prior to the con­
struction of a new sacred building. However, the field
records, which were made by Fenelli during the
excavation of Votive Deposit I at Satricum about a
century ago, mentioned that the workmen were
excavating at various places and depths near the tempie.
The objects which were recovered during this excavation
were listed by him as belonging to the deposit. The
artefacts were documented as groups according to the
material they were made of. For example, the iron
artefacts are listed as a separate group, are not recorded
every day while the workmen were excavating as aiready
stated, at various places and at several depths. This
description does not suggest a secondary deposit but is
more indicative for an open votive deposit in which at
separate occasions votives became directly deposited in
a pit in the sacred area. Moreover, this deposit did
contain much local impasto pottery. A recent study has
shown that items within this pottery group can well be
dated before 725 BC (Maaskant, in prep.). Therefore
the character and date of the deposit is less clear than
traditionally thought.
To some extend the iron artefacts fram Votive Deposit
I reflect the date of this deposit. In general, dating iran
objects is difficult on account of various reasons like the
endurance of tool and weapon forms and the ill-defined
typology which is caused by the state of preservation of
iran. Nevertheless the initial phase of the deposit is
indicated by some of the lance heads, axes, swords,
sickles and daggers while the final stage is demonstrated
by the iron rings and keys. For example the iran rings
Nos 12 and 13 find parallels in copper alloy signet rings
also found in Votive Deposit I and must be dated to the
second half of the 6th century BC (Satricum 1985: p.
1 12). Most of the iran objects, however, should be dated
to the second half of the 7th and the early 6th century
BC. The dating of the various artefacts will be discussed
in more detail further below.
This paper presents all the iran artefacts attributed to
Votive Deposit I (figs 2 to 8). Momentarily, most of the
iran objects shown in figures 2 to 8 are stored in the
depot of the Museo di Villa Giulia in Rome, while a
small selection is exhibited in the Satricum room of the
museum. These objects are attributed to Votive Deposit
I and are therefore presented as such in this paper.
Howeve,r, it is necessary to mention that about 10% of
the artefacts, many of which are minor fragments, are
registered as NN numbers. This means that at one stage,
theseobjects have lost their inventory number. Therefore,
they cannot be correlated directly with the field records
and have been assigned to Votive Deposit I. Nevertheless
93
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Fig. 8. Satricum, Vot i ve Deposi t I, iron, varia.
the majority of the iron artefacts presented, are securely
attributed to Votive Deposit I as is revealed in the
appendix. A detailed report of the actual excavations of
about a century ago and of the complicated post­
excavation history is published by Waarsenburg in his
thesis ( 1994: chapter 2).
The iron artefacts from Votive Deposit I, appear to
confirm the singular character of the deposit. With
respect to iron artefacts, I do not know of any comparable
deposit in Central Italy, though the Archaic Deposit
excavated at Anagni and which is dated from the 7th to
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the early 5th century BC, contained some comparable
iron artefacts like a fibula, bracelet, lances and keys
(Gatti, 1993: pp. 61-97), Another deposit in Central
Italy with some related iron items, is the deposit of
Brolio in the Val di Chiana.3 This deposit is dated from
the late 7th to the early 5th century BC Most of the
artefacts are, however, dated to the late 7th and early 6th
century BC It contains some lances and axes which are
similar to the ones found at Satricum in Votive Deposit
I (Romualdi, 1981: cat. Nos 58 to 67). Though both the
deposits at Anagni and at Brolio contain comparable
100
AJ. Nijboer
iron artefacts, they do not exhibit the quantity and
variety of iron objects recovered at Satricum.
Votive Deposit I at Satricum can be correlated with
the evidence for smithing in its vicinity and which is
presented above. There are several other deposits in
Central Italy with traces of smithing. For example, a
votive deposit at Grotta Bella (Terni) contained slags
and tools for iron-working such as hammers and a pair
of tongs. It was proposed that artefacts were produced
in the sanctuary for the use of pilgrims (Monacchi,
1988: pp. 75-99). AIso in Rome various slags are
documented from a layer with offering material found
against the circular foundation platform of the Vesta
tempie. This layer was dated from the middle of the 6th
cent. to the late 3rd century BC (Boni, 1900: pp. 172183; Gjerstadt. 1960: pp. 3 10-320). However, these
deposits did not reveal associated iron artefacts to the
same extend as Satricum.
To my knowledge, theclosest parallel both in quantity
and context is a deposit at Philia (Thessaly). At Philia,
dedications of iron artefacts as well as evidence for iron
manipulation is documented (Kil ian, 1983). The
difference between both deposits is that at Satricum
during the late 8th and first half of the 7th century a fair
amount of' international' imports were dedicated while
the deposit at Philia must be considered a local or
regional sanctuary.
Quite a few iron dedications at Philia, like tools,
ohe/oi, knives, arrows, lances, butt-spikes, swords,
semi-manufactured products, waste products and a bar
(similar to the bar from Satricum No. 148; fig. 8) were
excavated in the vicinity of the sanctuary. Waste­
products of copper alloy manufacture are found as well
as debris of a smithy. Some metalworking tools found
near the sanctuary should be interpreted as belonging to
workshops. Kilian mentions that for Greece, dedications
of iron artefacts are fairly common in many geometric
and archaic sanctuaries though unfortunately they are
not often published. He associates these dedications
with local production on account of accompanying
evidence such as half-finished and waste products.
Similar associations are likely to have occurred in Italy.
For example the archaic votive deposits of Anagni and
Satricum have revealed a large amount of iran
dedications which for Satricum are also combined with
waste products of smithing. This pattern may wel1 have
lasted into the republican period.
To a certain extent, the iron artefacts from Votive
Deposit I can be correlated to the necropolis and the
settlement of Satricum. Several tombs contained iron
objects comparable with the iron objects recovered
from Votive Deposit I.
Tomb II which is dated between 700/685 and 620,
contained many lance heads with corresponding shafts
and butt-spikes similar to the lance heads, butt-spikes
and shafts from Votive Deposit 1 (figs 4, 5 and 6). The
blades of the two swords from tomb II can be related to
the blade of sword No. 58 (fig. 4). Similar blades of
swords were excavated at Osteria dell'Osa in the tombs
54, 76 and 227 dated from 660 to 580 BC (Bietti
Sestieri. 1992).
Tomb XIV for example, dated to approx. 675-650
BC, containedan iron sword which is similarto fragments
64 to 66 (fig. 4).
Several fragments of blades of swords and daggers
found in tomb XVIII (dated in between 750/725-620/
6 10 BC) are similar to the blade-fragments Nos 63 to 66
(fig. 4).
Some of the pendants from tomb XXV dated to
approximately 640-620 are similar to the pendants 18 to
22 and 27 (fig. 2). This corresponds with the date of the
iron pendants excavated at Osteria dell 'Osa in tomb40 I
(period IVA2: 660/650-630/620 BC; Bietti Sestieri,
1992). Several of the pendants found in this tomb are
related to the pendants Nos 14 to 27 from Satricum (fig.
2).
Undoubtedly. more iron artefacts from the necropolis
correspond to iron objects from Votive Deposit I.
However, Waarsenburg did not ful1y document the iron
artefacts from the Iron Age necropolis and consequently
it was not possibie to relate every iron item from the
necropolis to iron artefacts from Votive Deposit I.
In the settlement, only a few iron objects were
excavated. These objects can al1 be dated to the middle
of the 7th century BC (see appendix). Both the knives
and the axes from the settlement area are comparable
with knife fragments and axes from Votive Deposit I
(fig. 3).
The variety of iron objects recovered from Votive
Deposit I, creates difficulties for the dating of the
various objects. This diversity is unsurpassed in Latium
and many artefacts are without parallels. Therefore they
can only be dated on account of the general date given
to the deposit. For example, the iron artefacts that look
like spindle-whorls (fig. 2: Nos 32 to 37), can not be
matched with similar iron objects from other sites nor
can the bracelets with Cu-alloy inlay (fig. 2: Nos 28 and
30). The iron sickles (fig. 3: Nos 47, 48 and 49) are as
far as I know, not attested in Central Italy (see items
mentioned and registered by Hartmann, 1982) but are
known in southem Italy. At Francavilla Marittima several
iron sickles have been found which all belong to the
type with socket shaft and which are dated to the 8th
century BC (Gualtieri, 1982: p. 163). However, the
examples from Satricum do not belong to the type with
socket shaft. Copper al10y sickles of the same form as
Nos 47 to 49 were found in Central Italy, for example in
the ripostig/io di Pariana (Bartoloni, 1989: p. 72, fig.
3.9). This deposit, however, is dated to the 10th century
Be.
Anot\1er illustration ofthe complications encountered
in attempting to date iron artefacts that are not recovered
from closely dated archaeological contexts, is the group
of axes from Votive Deposit I (fig. 3: Nos 50 to 57).
These axes are relatively rare in Latium in the 7th
though quite popular in Etruria during the 7th and 6th
Iroll af Borgo Le F ar;aelSafricul11
century BC (Stary. 198 1: p. 18 \). This popularity is
demonstrated by the deposit of Brolio in the Val di
Chiana (Romualdi, 198 1) and the fomha <dci.f/ahclli di
hronzo> (Minto, 1943: pp. 139-159, tav. XXXIII).
Axes, similar to the Satricum examples, were found
in several necropolises in Central Italy with dates ranging
from 760 to the 'early 6th century BC. Hartmann ( 1984)
recorded two axes from Veii (dated 760 to 720 BC). one
axe from Tarquinia (dated to approx. 725-700) and five
from Vulci (mostly dated from 720 to 690 BC). For
example, the axe from Veii tomb II]J 19 (QF. 1963: pp.
2 10-212) is comparable with an axe from Satricum (fig.
3: No. 52).
The c\osest parallel in Latium is the fomha Bcrnardini
in PaIestrina where two square socketed axes (similar to
fig. 3: Nos 50 and 52) and one shaft hole axe (similar to
fig. 3: No. 57) were found (Canciani: von Hase, 1979:
pp. 62-63).-1 The fomha Bcrnardini is dated to the
beginning of the 7th century BC. The square socketed
axe from tomb 43 at Caracupa, dated around 650 BC,
also resemble the axes from Votive Deposit I (fig. 3:
Nos 50 and 5 1; Savignoni: Mengarelli, 1903: p. 325;
Angle: Gianni, 1985: p. 200).
Examining the infonnation available, I suggest to
date the axes from Votive Deposit I to the 7th century.
This is based on the examples from PaIestrina and
Caracupa and on account of similar axes in the settlement
area of Satricum. Nevertheless, considering the character
of Votive Deposit I, one can never exc\ude uncondi­
tionally both an earlier as well as a later date for these
axes.
5. EPILOGUE
It ean be dedueed from the presence of iron artefaets in
rieh tombs in central Italy, that iron artefacts were still
regarded as valuables during the 7th century and it is
likely that this was still the case during the 6th century
BC.
Reconstrueting the development of iron technology
in Greeee, Pleiner states that iron remains a highly
estimated material up to the beginning of the 5th eentury
BC (Pleiner. 1969: p. 31). In order to be able to compare
the development of iron technology in both Greece and
Italy, it is interesting to present his view on the situation
in Greece. Pleiner distinguishes two periods: the proto­
lron Age ( 12th-8th century BC) and the Early lron Age
(8th to beginning of 5th century BC). The proto-Iron
Age was characterized by a gradual increase of iron
objeets. Individual tombs became equipped more
extensively and contained iron swords, knives and
tooIs. The 8th century BC must be considered as a
period which brought many qualitative changes.
The Early lron Age brought an 'iron civilization'
with loeal metallurgy of iron and blacksmith's crafts.
Smithies were equipped with specialized tools while
smiths mastered quenching techniques and the use of
10 1
steel for manufacturing implements. Crafts without
iron tools, agriculture without iron harvesting imple­
ments and woodwork without iron axes were no longer
imaginable. The stage of specialized blacksmith work
started from the 5th century BC onwards. There were
several branches producing various sorts of artefacts
Iike annourers, swordsmiths, cutlers and hoe-makers
(Pleiner. 1969: pp. 30-31).
Though the development in Central Italy might to
some extend be different, the presented data from
Satricum match well with the description given by
Pleiner for Greece during the 8th to 6th century BC
since a large variety of iron objects ean be observed.
Satricum, however. is not the only proto-urban centre in
Central Italy with evidence for the manipulation of iron
(Nijboer. in prep. b).
For the initial phases of this development in Central
Italy. we ean examine the archaeological evidence from
the Quattro Fontanili cemetery at Veii. The iron artefacts
recovered from this necropolis indicate that there was a
gradual increase in iron artefacts from onwards 800 BC
with a marked development from 760 to 720. In that
period both the number of iron objects as well as the
variety of types increased sharply (Hartmann, 1984: pp.
59-6 1). In VuIci this development occurred in between
720 and 690 BC (Hartmann, 1984: p. 102). In Latium,
the use of iron increased gradually during the 8th
century while the 7th century displays a marked upsurge.
The technological evidence of this development,
whieh is examined by metaIlographic analyses,
corresponds with results from similar studies executed
elsewhere in Europe. During the early period of ,ron
technology. different types of iron were used (Pleiner,
1980: p. 388). In Central Italy some iron artefaets have
been studied metallographically, the results of which
can be compared with the analyses of the iron tools from
Satricum. These studies were executed by Folio et al.
( 1988) and Panseri and Leoni ( 1960; 1961). Among the
iron objects analysed are a dagger blade, an axe from
Vetulonia and a sword. These objects are dated to the
7th and 6th century BC and are made of different types
of iron as was also observed in the Satrieul1l iron tools.
Only the axe from Vetulonia (comparable to fig. 3: No.
52). was'quenched with an hardness ranging from 560
to 125 HV depending on the different types of iron
present (Panseri & Leoni, 1960).
The development of iron teehnology in Central Italy
ean, however, not be separated from the production of
artefacts made from copper alloys. It is generally
accepted that a labour division between copperjbronze­
workers and iron-smiths had not yet occurred during the
Orientalizing period (e.g. Pleiner, 1988: pp. 35-36;
Hartmann, 1984: pp. 154-155; Ampolo, 1980: pp. 173179). The combined use of copper and iron by the local
'metallurgist' of the Orientalizing period, eould also
explain the dose parallels between objects made from
either a copper alloy or iron. Moreover, there are several
sites in Central Italy like Pithekoussai, Poggio Civitate
102
AJ. Nijboer
and Acquarossa. where metallurgical manipulation of
both copper-alloys and iron appear simultaneously,
while even on Elba and in Populonia copper and iron
slags are found side by side (Nijboer, in prep. b: Crew,
1991: pp. 1 13- 1 14: Fedeli, 1983: p. 177; Speri, 1985: p.
49). This implies that if the output of the metallurgy
workshop at Satricum is to be indicated. the number of
Cu-alloy artefacts have to be considered as well. The
evidence for the processing of copper alloys at Satricum
is, however. circumstantial. There is indirect evidence
for the casting of fibulae, since several of the fibulae
types represented in Votive Deposit I, are identical and
cast from the same mouid. This suggests a local
production from the 7th century BC onwards. Thus
seven boatfibulaeareexactly equal in size and decoration
(No. 10658, Museo Villa Giulia), while sets of the same
type of fibulae, each set decreasing in size, occur also in
this deposit. Another indication of casting are droplets
of copper alloy, specimens of which are occasionally
found on the site. However, the difference between
these droplets and the smallest aes rude is disputable.
Nevertheless, the enormous amount of aes rude found
at Satricum outside Votive Deposit I, may indicate a
workshop area as well (Bouma, in prep.; Haeberlin,
19 10: p. 3).
Considering the immense number of copper alloy
artefacts in both the Iron age necropolis (Waarsenburg,
1994) and Votive Deposit I (e.g. Satricum 1985: pp. 951 16) and judging from the quantity of iron objects
presented, it is possibie to reconstruct full-time
specialization for the produetion of metal artefacts,
probably on a workshop level. Assessing the correlation
between artefacts produced and the distribution of
metal artefacts in the three archaeological contexts
(sanctuary, necropolis and settlement), it could well be
that at Satricum this metal-workshop was attached to
the religious institutions.
7. REFERENCES
ABB INGH. G.R .. J.G. MCDONNELL & AJ. N IJBOER. in prep ..
The iron objects from Borgo Le Ferriere (·Sutricum·). Journal lif
Ihe Hisloricul Metallurg.\' SlIciel)'.
AM POLO. C .. 1 9XO. Periodo IVb. La forrnazione delia cilla nel
Lazio. Dialolihi di Archaeologia. pp. 1 65- 1 92.
ANGLE. M . & A . GIANNI. 1 9S5. La mone inegualc: Dinamiche
social i rillesse nel ritule funerario; Il caso delia necropoli delJ'Eta
del Ferro di Caracupa. Opus 4. pp. 1 79-2 1 6.
BACH M A N N . H-G ..
ar('hOl'"logical siles
Institute of Archaeology.
BAKHUlZEN. S.C .. 1976. Chalcis in Euhoea, iroll and chalcidialls
abroatl. Leiden, E.l. Brill.
BARTOLON I . G . . I ':ISY. La (,I/II/I/,{/ Villallol'iall{/. Roma. La nuova
Italia scientifica.
B IETII SESTl E R I . A . M . ( a cura di). 1 992. Necropoli L<dale di
Osleria delrO.w. Roma. Quasar.
BON I . G .. 1 900. Nuove scopene del ia citta e nel suburbio regione
V l lI . Le recente esplorazione nel sacrario di Vesta. Nlllde degli
S('m·i. pp. 1 59- 1 9 1 .
BOUMA. J . W. e t al . . in prep. The economy of an early Latin
settlement at Borgo Le Ferriere (Satricum). 800-200 BC, In;.
Papas 11/ Ihl' jijih Clln/erencc o/ llaliall Ar('haeolog)'. Oxford
/992.
CANCIANI. F. &E-W. VON HASE. 1 979. La IO/llba Bel'/lardilli di
PaiesIrina. Roma. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.
COGHLAN. H.H . . IY75. Nilles on Ihe prehislllric III<·tall/lrgy of
copperand ImJ//:e ill Ih,. Old Wllrld. 2nd ed.
(= Occasional Papers
on Technology. 4). Oxford. Pitt Rivers Museum. University of
Oxford.
CREW. P. . 1 99 1 . The iron and copper slags at Baratti. Populonia,
Italy. JII/lmal of lile Historical l/lelallurgy Sodely 25. pp. 1 091 1 5.
FEDEL!. F. . 1 983. Populonia. Sloria e Territorio. Florence. Edizioni
all' Insegna del Gigiio. pp. 1 77- 1 87.
FOLLO. L . . G. GARAGN A N I . G. POLl & SP I NED!.
1 988.
Metall urgical investigation on some iron objects of particular
archaeolllgical interesl. In: G. Sperl (ed.). ThI' jirsl iroll ill Ihe
Mediterralleall
1 33- 1 47.
(= Pact 2 1 ). Strasbourg. Coundl of Europe, pp.
GATI!. S . . 1 993. Di\'es AlIagIlio, Archeololiia IIelIa Valle del Saeeo.
Roma. <L'Erma> di Bretschneider.
GINGE. B .. in prep. I/(Iliall eX(,{/l'atiolls al Salril'llfll (BorIio Le
Ferrierei
6. NOTES
1 9X2. The iJenlijic{/lion of slags frol/l
( = Occasional Publication No. 6). London,
1907-1910:
Malerials ji"om Ihe Wesl lIecropolis.
sOlllhwesl sallciliar)' alld Ihe hahilalioll area.
GJERSTADT. E .. 1 960. Archaic linds from the tcmple of Vesta. In:
Early !<lIme III. Rome. Acta Inst Rom Regni Sueciae, pp. 3 1 0-
I.
This paper would not have been possibIe without the kind
assistance of various Italian authorities for granting me the
ill Calahria ill Ihe lIi/ltll alld eighl
like to thank dOll. G. S<:idli lonc or thc Museo Nazionalc di Villa
HAEBERLIN, J.E.l., 19 1 0. Aes grave. Frankfurt a.M . . Joseph Baer
&Co.
the Comi tato per l'Archeologia Laziale. Gratitude for their
HARTMANN. N .. 1 984. Ironworking in southern Etruria in the ninth
contribution. support and diligence, i s also due to drs. J.W.
and eight centuries BC. Ann Arbor, PhD thesis Pennsyl v ania,
drs. J . W. Beestman and drs. G.R. Abbingh.
A rull catalogue with descriptions of the iron artefacts from
Votive Deposit l, which are presented in this anicle, will be
publ ished in my thesis.
The deposit at Brolio is recovered in 1 863 and was origina l l y
considered to be a hoard o f a metal workshop o n account of the
associated semi-manufactured products (expressed in a leller by
Scipione Corradini printed by Romualdi. 1 9X I : p. 64). Nowadays
it i s considered to be a deposit ( Romualdi, 1 98 1 : p. 35).
4.
11'011
('elllury BC. Ann Arhor. University MicrolilIlls International.
Bouma. our draughtsman H . Waterbolk and my former students
3.
GUALTIERI. M .. 1 982.
permission to examine the Satricum material. I especial l y would
Giulia in Rome. the Soprintendenza Archeologia per il Lazfoand
2.
320.
I have intentionully lefl out the late 8th <:entury BC, square
socketed axe from Caracupa (tomb I ) since it is slightly differen!.
Unlikc theexamples from Satricum it hasancyelctjust underneath
the shaf!.
University Microf i 1 ms International.
HARTMANN. N .. 1 985. The use of iron in 9th and 8th century
Etruria. I n : Papers of llaliall Archaeolog)' IV, pan i i i (= BAR Inl.
Series 245). Oxford. BAR. pp. 285-294.
K I L l A N , K., 1 983. Weihungen aus Eisen und Eisenverarbeitung im
Heiligtum zu Philia. In: R. Hagg (ed.), The Greek rellaissallce of
lile eighl Ce/llllry Be. Stockholm, Svenska Institutet i Athen, pp.
1 3 1 - 1 47,
KLEIN, J . , 1 972. A Greek metalworking quaner, eight century
excavations on Ischia. Expedilioll 1 4 (No. 2), pp. 34-39.
MAASKANT-KLEIBRINK, M . , 1 987. Settlement excal'ations al
Borgo Le Ferriere <Salricum>, Vol.
Forsten.
1 . Groningen, Egbert
MAASKANT-KLEI B RI N K M .. 1 992. Settlement exeavaliolls al
103
Iron af Borgo Le Ferriere/SafriclInI
Borgo Le Fe/Tiere <Satricl/m> . Vol. 2. Groningen, Egbert
Forsten.
MAASKANT-KLEIBRINK M .. in prep. Households of the goddess
or of early Latin families. I n : Papers of thI' fifth COllferellce of
Italiall A rchaeololU·. Oxford
1992.
M INTO, A., 1 943. Pllpl/lollia. Florence (reprinted by Rinascimento
del Libro-Tellini. Florence).
APPENDIX: IRON ARTEFACTS RECORDED FROM S ATRICUM
In the appendix, the iron artefacts from the thrce archaeologicaJ
contexts of the lron Age/Orienta l i zing period at Satricum (sanctuary,
necropolis and settlement), are described. These descriptions are
based on the folIowing l i terature:
- Votive Deposit I: Fene l l i . field records: Nijboer, this article;
MONACC H I , D .. 1. 9g8. Nola sulla stipa votiva di GrolIa Bella
(Temi). Sil/Iii Etrusehi 54. pp. 75-99.
NIJBOER. AJ . . 1 994. A pair of early fixed monetary units from
Borgo Le Ferriere <Satricum>. NI/mimatie Chrollic/e pp. 1 - 1 6.
NIJ BOER, AJ .• in prep. a. Industry and technology at Borgo Le
- Iron Age Necropolis: Waarsenburg. 1994;
- Selllement context: Maaskant-Kleibrink. 1 987: 1 992: Nijboer,
1 994.
1I0til'e Deposit l
Ferriere <Satricum>. 700-300 Be. In: Papers of thI' fiJih COl/fe­
The iron artefacts are mentioned in the 'Giomali' by the C/lslOde
NIJBOER, AJ .. in prep. b. The role of craftsmen in the urbanization
to May 4th 1 896. The iron artefacts are listed as groups, and are not
rel/ee of llalial/ Archaeology, Oxford
1992.
proces s of Central ltaly (8th t06th century BC). Acta H)'perhorea.
PANSERI, C. & M. LEONI. 1 960. Sulla tecnica di fabbricazione
Fenel li during the excavation of Votive Deposit
recorded day by day. The workers were excavating at various places
and at several depths, which could be indicative for an open depos i t
delle armi i n ferro presso gli Etruschi-Esame metallografico d i
and deposition a s assemblages.
/talial/a 5, pp. 229-236.
into English . .
un'ascia di ferro del V I I- V I sec.a.C. da Vetulonia. Metalll/rgia
I. from February 1 st
The original handwritten Italian text is for this purpose translated
PANSER!. C. &M . LEONI, 1 96 1 . La tecnologia del ferro presso gli
Etruschi. StI/di Etrusehi 29, pp. 235-243.
PLEINER, R .. 1 969. //'(1/1 \\Ior/;il/g il/ alldelll Greeee. Prague, National
February I
PLEINER, R .. 1 9HO. Early iron metallurgy in Europe. I n : T. Wertime
mm;
Technical Museum.
(ed.). ThI' eomil/g ofthe age ofirol/. New Haven, Yale University
Press. pp. 375-4 1 5.
PLEINER. R .. 1 9R R . Investigation into the quality of the earliest iron
in Europe. In: G. Sperl. (ed.). ThI'first irol/ il/ the Mediterral/eal/
(= Pact 2 1 ). Strasbourg. Council of Europe. pp. 33-36.
Quallro Fontanili. various authors. 1 963. Veio ( l sola Farnese). Scavi
in una necropo l i villanoviana in localitil 'Quallro Fontanil i ' .
- Iron lance broken in four pieces, with traces of wood. length 440
- A similar lance broken in four pieces, with traces of wood;
.
- Another lance incomplete at socket. len gth 70 mm;
- Sterratore*, preserved length 75 mm;
- Another similar*, length 85 mm;
- Axe without socket, length 1 20 mm, width 95 mm;
- Part o l' another axe. length 1 35 mm. width 95 mm:
- Ring, preserved diam. 17 mm;
Noti:ie degli Scal'i. p p . 49-236.
- Bult-spike without point, length 1 70 mm:
ChiaI/o. Roma. Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. Libreria
- A circular ingot. in the centre of which there is a hole, maybe to
ROMUALDI. A . . 1 9R I . Cawlogo del deposilO di Brolio ill lIal di
delIa Stato.
Satricum 1 9R5. Niel/W licJII op 1'1'1/ ol/de stad. Italiaame el/ Necler­
lal/d.\'e opgral'il/gel/ il/ Satriel/III. Exhibition Catalogue. Leiden.
SAVIGNONI. L. &R . MENGARELLI. 1 903. Caracupa. La necropoli
arcaica di Caracupa tra Norbae Sermoneta. NO/de degli Sem'i. pp.
289-344.
SCOTT. D.A . . 1 99 1 . Metallograph)' alld /IIicrostruCll/re af al/ciel/t
alld historie metals. Marina del Rey CA. The Gelly Conservation
Institute, The J. Paul Getty Museum.
SNODGRASS. A . M . , 1 980. Iron and earl y metal l urgy i n the
Mediterranean. I n : 1.D. Wertime, T.A. & J.D. Muhly (eds), The
com il/g ofthe age ofirol/. New Haven, Yale University Press, pp.
335-375.
SPERL. G . . 1 980. (jherdie Typologie I/rzeitlicher,Jriihgesehichtlieher
I/lld /IIillelaltalicher Eisl'IIJl/illellschlackell. Wien, Verlag der
Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.
SPERL. G . .
I l}X5. La introdllzione dei metal l i ne Jl 'Etrllria Anticn. l n :
G. Camporealc. C Erruria Mil/erari{1. M i lano. Ele,ta, pp. 39-40.
STARY. P.F .. 1 98 1 . lI/r eisellzeitliehell Bewafflll/Ilg I/Ild Ka/llpfes­
\Veise ill Millelitaliell
( = Marburger Studien zur Vor- und Friih­
geschichte, 3). Mainz am Rhein. Verlag Philipp von Zabem.
TYLECOTE. R.F., 1 987. ThI' earl)' histor)' IIf metalll/rfly ill EI/rope
(= Longman Archaeology Series). London, Longman.
W AARSEN BURG, DJ.. 1 994. The northwest necropolisof Satricum;
An lron Age cemetary in Latium Vetus. Thesis University Am­
sterdam.
- So,ket of a lance. length 1 60 mm:
hold a stick, height 35 mm, diam. 45 mm;
- Many nails.
February 4
- lron. a l ance broken at the socket. length 70 mm:
- Two fragmentary nails.
February 1 9
- Iron. two amulets of iron sheet, one i n the shape of a smal!
circular case, c10sed on the upper side with a small bar, and the other
of a semi-circular form:
- Fragments of a fibula di areo ill piello;
- Ring with rectangular bezel, diam. 16 mm:
- A circular ingot with a hole in the centre. diam. 55 mm, height
45 mm;
- A lance with incomplete point, lenght 320 mm;
- Some fragmentary nails.
February 20
- Iron sterratore* fragmentary, length 1 40 mm:
- Axe, preserved length 1 50 mm;
- Circular iron nucleus with a hole in the centre. diam. 45 mm:
- Lance broken in two pieces and fragmentary point. length 1 80
mm.
February 2 1
W AL TZING, J . P .. 1 895/1 896. Ell/de historiql/e sI/r les eorporatiolls
professiollel/es che: les RomaiIIs depl/is les origilles jl/sql/ ' cl la
diam. 75 mm.
ZEVI. F .. G. BARTOLO N I , M . CATALDI D I N I, A . BED I N I & F.
February 22
dl/Ile de r E/IIpire de r aceidem. Brussel. l ' Academie Royale.
CORDANO, 1 975. Castel di Decima, La necropoli arcaica. Noti:ie
degli Seavi 20, pp. 233-408.
- lron, bracelet of cylindrical rod, bended, forming two coils.
- l ron, circular nucleus with a hole in the centre, diam. 52 mm:
- Two fibulae without tongue and bracket;
- Lance without socket, length 200 mm:
- Another similar one without socket and fragmentary at point.
length 1 40 mm:
104
AJ. Nijboer
- Four fragments of hlade of knives:
- Six plIlI/ali (shaft-tips) o f lances. nearly a l l fragmentary:
- Many shapeless pieces.
- Two butt-spikes difnrlllo aI/III/gaia. inv. 1 1 986:
- Two hutt-spikes Ctll/il'i. inv. 1 1 986':
- Sword and sheath: double edged sword with i vory-clad h i l t and
wooden sheath. inv. 1 1 988:
February 24
- Semi-circular. hollow pendant made of two sheets bended
together and at one end with a bronze ri nglet. length 70 mm.
- I ron sword. fragment o fblade: double edged sword. inv. Cer/sn-
73: I. max. 7.9: w. 4.2-4.4:
-Circular plaque: thick iron plate consisting oftwo contraposted.
eircular plaques with convex sides. welded together: one side has
February 25
- Iron. three l ance heads. all fragmentary. length from 1 90 mm to
340 mm:
- Lance head without point. length 1 50 mm:
- Two SIerralore d·aralio*. length 95 mm and 1 40 mm:
- Two fibulae ad arco illfiro.uoln fragmentary. length 35 and 45
mm:
- Another similar one. preserved length 2 3 mm:
- Iron pendant with attached bronze ri nglet:
- l ron nucleus. hole i n Ihe centre. diam. 47 mm.
centrally thc join of a vertical shaft with quadrangular section (0.5),
inv. Cer/sn-n: diam. 7.2: th. 0.4-0.7:
- Circular plaque: thick c i reular plaque with convex side. inv.
Cer/sn-n: diam. 7.0:
-Spine (of grip'! ): oblong fragmentofiron with roughly rectangular
section. inv. I l/unit 3/sn-l:I: 1 .7x2. 1 xO.6.
Tomb I I I (c. 650 to 630 BC)
- Double edged sword with traces o f wooden sheath: corroded
beyond recognition. inv. 1 1 995:
- Two lance heads: corroded beyond reeognition. inv. 1 1 996:
Fehruary 28
- One sierra lore d·aralin*. length 1 1 0 mm:
- lron bracelet. diam. SO mm.
- Large har. cyl indricai i n seetion. terminating in a massive ovoid
knob: function undefined. inv. 1 1 997; I. 53.0: w. 1 . 3-2.6: w. knob4.5.
Tomb IV (c. 640/630 BC)
February 29
- l ron fihula without tongue. length 40 mm:
- Two incomplete lance heads.
- Thick iron nail ( d ia m . shaft 0.8). c y l i ndrical section:
hemispherical hronze head. inv. 1 2006: I. max. 3.9: head 1 . 5.
Tomb V (c. 650/640 BC)
March 2
- Iron. open bracelet of cylindrical rod. diam. 66 mm.
March 2 1
- lron. lance. fragmenlary at shaft. length 5 8 mm.
-Elongated lance with straight sides, inv. 1 20 1 8: I. 1 1 .5: w. max.
3.0.
Amber burial. tomb V I : date c.650/640:
- lron spind les. fourteen fragments: iron shafts covered with
traces ofreed or wooden sheating. inv. 1 2066:
March 23
- Iron, fragments of lances.
0.6-0.7: rings: th. 0.9- 1 .9: diam. 0.3-0.7;
I. max. 4.9: diam. shaft
- Iron shaft with turquoise glaze. inv. 1 2067: I. 3.8 and 5 . 1 : diam.
0.85.
March 26
- Iron, sIerratore d'oratio*, lengtll 1 1 0 mm.
Last entree of this campaign i s made on May 4. 1 896. Fene l l i
documented i n 1 896 about 65 iron objects from Votive Deposi t l apart
from remarks as lIlOiii pe:zi illforllli. jrallllllellli di lal/de and lIloiIi
Tomb XIV (c. 675-650 BC)
- Lance head. inv. 1 2 1 45 : I. max. 1 7.3: w. max. 3.9:
- Lance
('?l. inv. 1 2 1 47 : I . max. 3.6-6.4 (?):
- Sword. i n fragments. recognizable are: parts of the blade: an
iron knoh. presumably representing the pommel of the hilt: and a
chindi. Figures 2 to 8 total 1 48 iron arte facts from this deposit. The
hollow hronze sheet lentoid knob which formed the finial of the
l . can be explained b y t h e simultaneous excavations o f t he necropolis
diam. 6.6.
documented by Fenel l i as wel l . which ereated serious d i fficulties for
Tomb XIX bis (c. 690/675)
omission of quite a few iron artefacts recovered from Votive Deposi t
area from April 7th. 1 1:196 onwards. These excavations had to be
the registration ( Waarsenburg. 1 994: pp. 45-46).
The deseriptions by Fenel l i are accurate and most objects he
deseribed. can be relaled to individual objects of figures 2 to 8.
*Slerralore and sierralore d'aralio: Fenel l i used either of these
designations seven times and I can not relale Ihis term to any of the
objecls. The terms. when translated literally. would mean ' digger' and
'digger of plough·.
He could have intended ploughsharcs. hul nonc of
the objects of figs 2 to 8 looks l ike one (se e for an i mage of a
ploughshare, the famous statue ofthe Aralore di Are::o i n the Museo
Nazionale Etrusco di V i l l a G i u l i a a t Rome). Considering that Fenel l i
sheath. inv. 1 2 1 46: I. max. 1 3.6; estimated total lcnghtc. 30: pommel
- Iron object. decayed: inventory book: clIspide di lal/cia il/ferrn.
inv. 1 222 1 :
I. 1 8.0: w. max. 3.5.
Tomb XX ( 8th century ? )
- Two iron lanee heads: beyond recognition. inv. 1 2222.
Tomh X X l l I (c. 6:!0)
- Lance head: Icaf-shaped blade with straight sides: circular shaft.
inv. 1 2230: total I. :!R.8: diam. shaft 3.7.
only gave measurements of the lengths when h e used e ither o f both
Tomb X X V (c. 640/620)
terms to some o f the metal points, figures 5 and 6: Nos 86 to 97.
7.4: diam. shaft :!.3-2.8.
terms. and considering the lengths themselves, l ean only relate these
Irol/frolll lhe I/orllnvesl l/ermpnlis al Salric/III/ (the inventory numbers
are Ihe V i l l a G i u l i a numbers)
Tomb I l (between c. 700/685 and 620)
The i ron weaponry was in a poor cond ition aIready at the time of
discovery: theil' present state no longer al lows for an analysis o f their
shape: the Gitm/(/Ie mentioned two iron lance heads wilh the i r relative
butt-spikes from the west corridor: reeonstrucled from the Giorl/ale
are seven oreight iron lances and seven butt-spikes: the inventorybook
descri bes:
- Eleven lance heads. inv. 1 1 9R5:
- Five butts
('! ): oblong conicai hollow tubes. inv. 1 2235: I. 5.2-
AJN: these ohjeets are pendants. for parallels see Votive Deposit I .
fig. 2 : Nos 1 8 t o
n.
- Two hemisphcrical hollow knobs: circular to oval outli ne. inv.
1 2236: diam. 3.5: h. 2. 1 and 2.3.
The multiple burial complex Tumulus C: the graves of Tumulus C
contained objects ranging in date from the mid 8th to the late 7th
century BC. The iron artefacts from tombs V I I . V I I I . I X and X V I I I
form part o f Tumulus C.
105
IrOIl af Borgo Le F erriere/SarriclIlII
Tomb V I I : date c . 775/750
- Knife : short. hroad blade with straight cutting edge: straighi
back. rounded towards the point: spine of grip with quadrangular
section. iny. 1 20R I : l . 1 5.6; w. 3.2;
- Utensi l : ohlong iron utensil; quadrangular i n section. iny.
1 2079:
l . max. I l . 3; w. 1 .3;
- Nail: iron shart with cyl indrical ·section. iny. 1 20RD: l. 1 3.2; w.
.
max. 1 .5 .
Tomb V l I I : date c. 675/650-c. 630/620
- Sword: douhle edged hlade. Reportedly found with traces of
wooden sheath. inv. 1 2()<}7: l. 9.0; w. 3.0-3.9; th. 0.6;
- Shaft: oblong iron object. rounded section. inv. 1 2099: l . 7.2; w.
show the root of a tubular shaft. inv. 1 22 1 5. (diam. 1 .2- 1 .4).
Between 1 907 and 1 9 1 0. ahout 30 tombs were excavated from the
northwest necropolis. which w i l l be publ i shed by B . Gi nge ( 1 994). Of
this group only the tombs containing iron artefacts are presented.
Tomb 1 5: period IVb; fragment of iron;
Tomb 22: period IVa; two pieces of i ron weaponry;
Tomb 25: period I I I and/or IV a.; iron dagger with bronze-wire hilt;
Tomb 30: period I Va; iron dagger with wooden sheath;
Tomb sn- I : period I Vh; iron k n i fe. lance heads and a sword.
From the lron age necropol is. approximately 65 iron arte facts have
been registered in the stud)' hy Waarsenburg. This numher consists
0.6;
partIy o f hroken fragments and ean not be used as a dcfinitive number.
section 0.9;
distrihuted over the exeavated tomhs.
diam. head 0.6;
1/'011 f/'OIII Ihe
- R i ng: circular ring. circular section. inv. 1 2098: diam. 8.4;
- lron nail: pointed shaft circular section. inv. V l l l/sn- I : l. 5. 1 ;
- Bronze-shcet cylinder with iron core: the object consists ofa thin
bronze sheet, wrappcd over an iron core which appears to thicken
towards the central part. inv. 1 1 . 1 1 990: es!. total l . 1 8 ; l . frags. 9.0; 5.2;
h. 3.2-3.4; w. 4.0-4.
Tomb IX: date 700/650 (C l ); 640/620 (C2)
- Lance head ( '? ) : ohlong rectangular piece o f i ron. ",ith spine-like
protrusion on one end. inv. 1 2 1 05: l . 1 7.9; w. max. 3.7;
- Nail .\Thec!,'. No. 1 907.
Tomb X V l I I : date c. 750/725-620/6 1 0
- Sword and wooden sheath: seven fragments of an iron sword.
inv. 1 22 1 6: l . max. 1 4.R; es!. total l. 58; w. 1 .4-6.7;
- Dagger with hronze-wire sheath: elongated hlade. oval in
section. in wooden sheath entwined with bronze wire. Hilt consisting
of two bronze segments encIosing a bone or i vory grip segment. inv.
1 22 1 7. 1 : total l. 37.4; l . hlade 24.2: w. max. 4.2;
- Dagger or snlall sword with sheath: e longated hlade with a
central spine; wondcn sheathentwined with bronze wire. inv. 1 22 1 7.2:
l . max. 6.8; w. max. 4.7;
- Two (?) l ance hcads: four fragments are preserved. two of which
It
gives mercIy an illl p ression ol' the <juantity (lI' i ro n artefaets
.11'11/1'1111'111
Ca!. II No. 2087: fragment o f i ron k n i fe. point ofa k n i fe. S4607 from
Section dam lower level. full 7th century BC;
- Ca! . 1 I No. 254 1 : fragment of iron k n i fe. part o f k n i fe which
forms hand le of a kni fe. S4233. Stratum I la. artefacts found in part of
the area ol' female activity of hut feature V I I . first hal l' of 7th century
Be.
Both knife fragments are found i n or near an activity area with
a�sociated linds as a stand, spools and bone and antler showing k n i fe
cuts ( Maaskant-Kleibrink. 1 992: pp. 69-70. 94-9R).
I n Square B 18 were recovered:
- S 5030: 2 socketcd axes and a k n i fe ;
- S 5030/3: hloom/hillet;
- S 5099: socketed axe.
This mctal concentration incIuded a copper alloy vessel . howl.
bracelet and fibula. as well as iron axes. knives and a piece of raw.
u l1\vorked irnn (a bloom/bi llet). These objects were recovered in the
settlement area of the exeavation though the
exact context is not yet
known. However. the direct context ofthis assemhlage. implies trade
and production of metal artefacts ( N ij boer. I YY4: p. 9).