title: Archaeometallurgical characterization of the earliest European metal helmets.
abstract: Archaeometric analyses on conical and decorated cap helmets from the Bronze Age are presented. The helmets are dated to the 14-12th century BC according to associated finds in hoards. Alloy composition, material structure and manufacturing processes are determined and shed light on the earliest development of weaponry production in Central and Eastern Europe. Analyses were carried out using light and dark field microscopy, SEM-EDXS, PIXE, TOF-ND and PGAA. The results allowed reconstructing the manufacturing process, the differences between the cap of the helmets and their knobs (i.e. alloy composition) and the joining technique of the two parts.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale (DCCI), Universitá degli Studi di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, I-16146 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mödlinger
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale (DCCI), Universitá degli Studi di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, I-16146 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piccardo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Konkoly Thege Miklós út 29-33, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kasztovszky
authors.affiliation: Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Konkoly Thege Str. 29-33, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.affiliation: Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Konkoly Thege Str. 29-33, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szőkefalvi-Nagy
authors.affiliation: Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Konkoly Thege u., 29-33, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Káli
authors.affiliation: Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Konkoly Thege Miklós út 29-33, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Szilágyi
keywords: Bronze Age; Helmets; Manufacturing techniques; Metallography; PGAA; PIXE; SEM–EDXS; TOF-ND; Tin–bronze