A reconstruction of the technological process for producing a bronze helmet from the late Iron Age is presented. Found in Podzemelj, Bela Krajina, the helmet is one of Slovenia's most significant recent discoveries and is displayed at the Belokranjski Museum in Metlika.
The helmet's characterization, part of Jereb Žerjav’s master's thesis, provided insights into its chemical composition, corrosion products, and microstructure before reconstruction.
The aim of the master's work was to determine the technological process for the production of the helmet. The determination of the technological process allowed insight into the skills and advancement of the craftsman who made the found helmet.
Based on the shape factor of the deformed sulfide inclusions, the degree of deformation required for the helmet's production was determined. From the calculated degree of deformation and knowledge of the wall thickness of the helmet and its mass, the dimensions of the raw material from which the helmet was made were established.
After various processing and annealing programs, a simulation of the helmet's production was conducted. The input material state was defined, and the temperature and minimum recrystallization time were determined through testing.
The microstructure of the simulated samples was compared with that of the helmet, achieving a similar microstructure in the annealed samples. The crystal grains in these samples were larger than in the original, with the best match found in the sample with an initial thickness of 4 mm.
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