ASSIROS: IRON AGE SMALL FINDS

METAL

 


Objects of copper or bronze were less common than in Bronze Age levels, and the typical BA tubular beads no longer occur. The most remarkable piece is a long pin with flattened head from the latest Phase (1), while several needles or fragments of needle (centre) were also found. A piece of ingot (top right) confirms that bronze working was taking place not too far away as do a number of stone mould fragments.

Iron is not particularly well represented and the most significant piece is a double axe from the 'great pit' at the southern end of the Toumba which probably dates to activity in Phase 3.

Among the iron objects which were found were nail heads, rings and strips of metal. Some however were from superficial levels and may be modern.

A few items of lead were also found: these were usually parts of the rivets used to mend pottery - both fine ware (right) and pithoi (centre left). Other items are unidentifiable, while the presence of a bullet (left) reminds us of the turbulent history of the region as recently as the first half of the 20th century.

Several cartridge cases were found, perhaps dating from the civil war (1944-1949) and some were still live. These can perhaps be associated with the shallow entrenchments which could just be detected around the N. end of the summer of the Toumba when we started excavation in 1975.

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