First Metallurgy in Northern Europe: An Early Neolithic Crucible and a Possible Tuyère from Lønt, Denmark

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Birgitte Gebauer ◽  
Lasse Vilien Sørensen ◽  
Michelle Taube ◽  
Daniel Kim Peel Wielandt

In this article we present the fragments of a crucible and a possible tuyère that provide evidence of early copper metallurgy in Scandinavia at least 1500 years earlier than previously thought. The technical ceramics were found in a cultural layer containing Early Neolithic Funnel Beaker pottery dating to around 3800–3500 bc beneath a long barrow dating to 3300–3100 bc. The presence of a copper alloy in the crucible is confirmed by three independent X-ray fluorescence analyses using both a hand-held and a stationary instrument, SEM-EDS analysis of a cross-section, as well as a Bruker Tornado μ-X-Ray-fluorescence scanner (μ-XRF). The transmission of metallurgy to southern Scandinavia coincided with the introduction of long barrows, causewayed enclosures, two-aisled houses, and certain types of artefacts. Thus, metallurgy seems to be part of the new networks that enabled the establishment of a fully Neolithic society.

A previous paper described the preparation and tensile properties of brass crystals containing 25 to 30 per cent. zinc. Similar experiments have now been carried out with a copper-aluminium alloy containing 5 per cent, aluminium, which was kindly prepared by the Broughton Copper Company. Crystals of this alloy were easier to prepare than the brass crystals and the composition was more uniform, as unlike zinc, aluminium is not volatile. On the other hand, a very resistant oxide film forms on the surface, and the prepared surfaces of the crystals tarnish very readily. The bars were sound, except near the top, where very well-developed dendrites were formed. It was found on etching that the crystals were not always of uniform orientation throughout; and were very much cored. Bands of very slightly differing orientation occurred, of which fig. 1 (Plate 20) is an example. This has almost the appearance of lamellar twinning. Actually, X-ray measurements showed that both parts had the same relationship to the vertical axis, but that one part was rotated 7° with regard to the other, about their plane of union, which in this case was nearly perpendicular to the axis. Figs. 2 and 3 (Plate 20) are photographs of the cross-section and vertical section of the same crystal. The scratch in fig. 2 corresponds with the plane of the section shown in fig. 3. The cores are not developed uniformly, nor are they evenly spaced. In this particular crystal those perpendicular to the axis were most complete. X-ray measurements showed that both sections were {100} planes, indicating that the cores followed the cubic axes of the crystal, but as the photographs show, they were not equally developed along the three possible directions. This is in accordance with previous observations on the crystallization of metals.


Author(s):  
Thomas S. Leeson ◽  
C. Roland Leeson

Numerous previous studies of outer segments of retinal receptors have demonstrated a complex internal structure of a series of transversely orientated membranous lamellae, discs, or saccules. In cones, these lamellae probably are invaginations of the covering plasma membrane. In rods, however, they appear to be isolated and separate discs although some authors report interconnections and some continuities with the surface near the base of the outer segment, i.e. toward the inner segment. In some species, variations have been reported, such as longitudinally orientated lamellae and lamellar whorls. In cross section, the discs or saccules show one or more incisures. The saccules probably contain photolabile pigment, with resulting potentials after dipole formation during bleaching of pigment. Continuity between the lamina of rod saccules and extracellular space may be necessary for the detection of dipoles, although such continuity usually is not found by electron microscopy. Particles on the membranes have been found by low angle X-ray diffraction, by low temperature electron microscopy and by freeze-etching techniques.


Author(s):  
Shawn Williams ◽  
Xiaodong Zhang ◽  
Susan Lamm ◽  
Jack Van’t Hof

The Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope (STXM) is well suited for investigating metaphase chromosome structure. The absorption cross-section of soft x-rays having energies between the carbon and oxygen K edges (284 - 531 eV) is 6 - 9.5 times greater for organic specimens than for water, which permits one to examine unstained, wet biological specimens with resolution superior to that attainable using visible light. The attenuation length of the x-rays is suitable for imaging micron thick specimens without sectioning. This large difference in cross-section yields good specimen contrast, so that fewer soft x-rays than electrons are required to image wet biological specimens at a given resolution. But most imaging techniques delivering better resolution than visible light produce radiation damage. Soft x-rays are known to be very effective in damaging biological specimens. The STXM is constructed to minimize specimen dose, but it is important to measure the actual damage induced as a function of dose in order to determine the dose range within which radiation damage does not compromise image quality.


Author(s):  
Imre Pozsgai ◽  
Klara Erdöhalmi-Torok

The paintings by the great Hungarian master Mihaly Munkacsy (1844-1900) made in an 8-9 years period of his activity are deteriorating. The most conspicuous sign of the deterioration is an intensive darkening. We have made an attempt by electron beam microanalysis to clarify the causes of the darkening. The importance of a study like this is increased by the fact that a similar darkening can be observed on the paintings by Munkacsy’s contemporaries e.g Courbet and Makart. A thick brown mass the so called bitumen used by Munkacsy for grounding and also as a paint is believed by the art historians to cause the darkening.For this study, paint specimens were taken from the following paintings: “Studio”, “Farewell” and the “Portrait of the Master’s Wife”, all of them are the property of the Hungarian National Gallery. The paint samples were embedded in a polyester resin “Poly-Pol PS-230” and after grinding and polishing their cross section was used for x-ray mapping.


Author(s):  
Douglas L. Dorset

A variety of linear chain materials exist as polydisperse systems which are difficultly purified. The stability of continuous binary solid solutions assume that the Gibbs free energy of the solution is lower than that of either crystal component, a condition which includes such factors as relative molecular sizes and shapes and perhaps the symmetry of the pure component crystal structures.Although extensive studies of n-alkane miscibility have been carried out via powder X-ray diffraction of bulk samples we have begun to examine binary systems as single crystals, taking advantage of the well-known enhanced scattering cross section of matter for electrons and also the favorable projection of a paraffin crystal structure posited by epitaxial crystallization of such samples on organic substrates such as benzoic acid.


Author(s):  
Matthew T. Johnson ◽  
Ian M. Anderson ◽  
Jim Bentley ◽  
C. Barry Carter

Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) performed at low (≤ 5 kV) accelerating voltages in the SEM has the potential for providing quantitative microanalytical information with a spatial resolution of ∼100 nm. In the present work, EDS analyses were performed on magnesium ferrite spinel [(MgxFe1−x)Fe2O4] dendrites embedded in a MgO matrix, as shown in Fig. 1. spatial resolution of X-ray microanalysis at conventional accelerating voltages is insufficient for the quantitative analysis of these dendrites, which have widths of the order of a few hundred nanometers, without deconvolution of contributions from the MgO matrix. However, Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the interaction volume for MgFe2O4 is ∼150 nm at 3 kV accelerating voltage and therefore sufficient to analyze the dendrites without matrix contributions.Single-crystal {001}-oriented MgO was reacted with hematite (Fe2O3) powder for 6 h at 1450°C in air and furnace cooled. The specimen was then cleaved to expose a clean cross-section suitable for microanalysis.


Author(s):  
Rose Emergo ◽  
Steve Brockett

Abstract This paper outlines the systematic isolation of an electrostatic discharge defect on a depletion-mode FET. Topics covered are fault isolation, FIB-STEM cross-section and EDS analysis, and defect simulation. Multiple GaAs PA devices were submitted for analysis after failing different reliability stresses. Fault isolation revealed ESD damage on a DFET connected to the VMODE0 pin. Simulation of the failure showed that, most likely, the defect was caused by CDM stress. A design change of inserting a resistor between the VMODE0 pin and the DFET made the device more robust against CDM stress.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (21) ◽  
pp. 65-73
Author(s):  
Monika Gwoździk

The paper presents results of studies on the crystallite sizes of oxide layer formed during a long-term operation on 10CrMo9-10 steel at an elevated temperature (T = 545° C, t = 200,000 h). This value was determined by a method based on analysis of the diffraction line profile, according to a Scherrer formula. The oxide layer was studied on a surface and a cross-section at the outer and inner site on the pipe outlet, at the fire and counter-fire wall of the tube. X-ray studies were carried out on the surface of a tube, then the layer’s surface was polished and the diffraction measurements repeated to reveal differences in the originated oxides layer.


2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 295-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Murdoch ◽  
P.G. Smith

The deposition of manganese within a biofilm growing on the surface of high-density polyethlene (HDPE) and polyvinychloride (PVC) was studied over a period of four months. The manganese rich water used in the study was inoculated with a manganese oxidising Pseudomonas spp. The level of Mn2+ in the water was monitored and was found to decrease as the biofilm formation increased. This was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis which showed the detection of manganese was dependent on the presence of a biofilm. After two months a 100% removal of Mn2+ was observed in all the flasks inoculated by the Pseudomonas spp. and manganese micro-nodules, the formation of which were reported in Murdoch and Smith (1999), were being formed in large clusters across the surfaces of both the HDPE and PVC. The manganese peak area from the EDS spectrum analysis of the micro-nodules was significantly larger than was measured in the biofilm when these micro-nodules were absent. The scanning confocal laser microscope (SCLM) images of three-week samples showed high bacterial activity around areas where manganese micro-nodules were starting to form on the pipe surface.


The Holocene ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt J Gron ◽  
Peter Rowley-Conwy

Farming practice in the first period of the southern Scandinavian Neolithic (Early Neolithic I, Funnel Beaker Culture, 3950–3500 cal. BC) is not well understood. Despite the presence of the first farmers and their domesticated plants and animals, little evidence of profound changes to the landscape such as widespread deforestation has emerged from this crucial early period. Bone collagen dietary stable isotope ratios of wild herbivores from southern Scandinavia are here analysed in order to determine the expected range of dietary variation across the landscape. Coupled with previously published isotope data, differences in dietary variation between wild and domestic species indicate strong human influence on the choice and creation of feeding environments for cattle. In context with palynological and zooarchaeological data, we demonstrate that a human-built agricultural environment was present from the outset of farming in the region, and such a pattern is consistent with the process by which expansion agriculture moves into previously unfarmed regions.


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