Metal Threads from the Fourteenth-Century Slabbed Graves at the Plateau of Eski-Kermen

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the study of metal threads found in the fourteenth-century burials in slabbed graves located atop of the plateau of Eski-Kermen. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determined the metal of the threads in question as high-grade silver. The results of scanning electron microscopy of the surface morphology of the artefacts allowed the one to suggest a variant of reconstruction of the sequence of technological operations in the manufacture of the metal threads in question. The feature of all the metal threads under study is very even outer and inner surface and stable thickness and width of the metal band. In all cases, gold inclusions were stretched in the mass of metal along the long edge of the bands. Cast metal was flattened into a thin band. Parallel scratches along the butt end of the threads suggest that rolled out metal was cut with a tool with a thin, sharp blade leaving scratches along the course of the blade. Semi-finished products were wound onto an organic core. The threads found in the slabbed graves atop of the plateau of Eski-Kermen were spun silver threads wound onto a silk core. Technologically, these threads correspond to the products of Mediterranean workshops. The location of the metal threads in the burial indicates that they were used in the embroidering of the collar and neck.