This paper analyses 20 Late Bronze Age (ca 1080–800 BC) copper alloy objects to discern their manufacture and the skills of local craftsmen. Several tools and jewellery were studied that originated from a bronze workshop located immediately next to the Prigglitz-Gasteil copper ore mining site and several contemporaneous sites in the surrounding area. The samples were studied with optical microscopy (microstructurally), and SEM-EDXS and XRF (chemical analyses). Our analyses are part of a larger study and suggest that the Prigglitz region’s bronze production was not standardized. Particular alloys do not seem to have been chosen for object types or due to their intended use-function. Notably, approximately 20% of the objects contain unalloyed copper inclusions, which are most likely a result of the incomplete mixing of scrap metals and alloys during their production.

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The Late Bronze Age copper mining site “Gasteil Cu I” (ca 1050–850 BC) is located in the district of Neunkirchen, Lower Austria. Since 2010 five excavation campaigns took place and many artifacts as well as corroded metallic droplets were discovered. Two of these droplets were investigated by metallography. At the droplet ́s surface tin was measured, indicating that these droplets are formed during bronze casting. The small droplet is severely corroded but in its core the original bronze alloy is still present. The analysis showed about 10 wt.% Sn. The microstructure is characterized by a Cu-Sn solid solution and a Cu-Sn intermetallic phase. Additionally small amounts of Cu2S were observed in the metallic core. The corroded rim contains oxides and hydroxides of Cu and Sn and other impurities like Ca, P, Si, S and Fe. Analyzing the corrosion products, Sn concentrations up to 40 wt.% were measured. This enrichment can be explained by a simultaneous formation of insoluble SnO2 and Cu ions, which were transported to the surface. Surprisingly, the other large droplet has a corroded core and metallic phases are remaining at the rim. The microstructures of the corrosion products reflect the original casting microstructures of the bronze.

The form of buildings does not depend only on function, but also on climate, topography, available material and techniques, on symbolism and social structures. This can even be demonstrated by the example of modern architecture, for which the maxim 'form follows function' was originally coined. The functional interpretation of prehistoric architecture is especially difficult, because of its fragmentary state of preservation and because possible functions are not known a priori. Therefore this paper presents and evaluates five groups of methods, which allow interpretations of archaeological building features: 1) Ad hoc interpretations: these are mostly made implicitly and should be replaced by systematic approaches; 2) equalization of building types with functions: this method has limits because functional equivalents have to be considered; 3) conclusions by analogy: they depend mostly on the choice of objects for comparison; 4) circumstantial evidence: timeconsuming and expensive techniques of excavation and sampling as well as careful studies of taphonomy are necessary; 5) contextual analyses: easily run into the danger of circular arguments. In practice often only a combination of various methods provides good results; that is why a clear explanation of analytical methods is so important.