TITLE:
The Disc Phenomenon: A Technological Study of 50 Protohistoric Bronze Discs with Concentric Decoration, from the Abruzzo Region in Italy
AUTHORS:
Maria Laura Mascelloni
KEYWORDS:
Archaeometry, Archaeometallurgy, Bronzes, Discs, Italic Cultures, Iron Age, Protohistory, Fucino, Abruzzo
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.13 No.1,
March
15,
2024
ABSTRACT: Discs were made of bronze,
bronze/iron or iron, and for centuries, they were used by all the Italic protohistorical
cultures. Considered a single class of materials, for a long time, they were
misconstrued as a whole, as components of armour; on the contrary, contextual
discs with concentric decoration, where gender
is recognizable, come from feminine burials. Research explores dynamics
related to production, use and management of discs, alongside relations between production centres, local workshops, and
technological changes from bronze to iron and vice versa. All 50 discs are sporadic, but the 60% of them indicate
Fucino as provenience. This research proposes a diachronic analysis exploring
the hypothesis that discs with concentric decoration have both independent origins and different functions from
either armour pectorals or figurative
samples. Discs with concentric decoration belong to a feminine sphere
and, in order to process them in all these aspects, the dress code has been
investigated through the study of decorations
and suspension systems. About 25% of
discs were repaired in the past. Therefore, particular attention was given to chemical compositions and technologies of
the various constituent elements or
parts of reparation, in order to compare data both inside the same disc
or among those showing similar interventions: 1) Methodology and discussion; 2)
Quantification of findings and data statistical treatment; 3) Technological and traceological analysis, by stereo
Optical Microscope (80×); 4) Chemical characterization, by portable
ED-XRF.