Advanced exploitation of high-tin bronze alloys at medieval Talgar in Kazakhstan

Abstract

A metallographic examination of a bronze assemblage from the medieval site in Talgar, Kazakhstan, found high-tin bronze used in various domestic items requiring advanced functional properties. The main techniques observed involve high-tin alloys employed as spacers and binding agents in making double-walled thermal containers and the optimized thermo-mechanical treatments practiced in the α + β phase field. The addition of zinc together with tin and lead was also observed. We explored the engineering processes implemented and the level of pertinent technological sophistication.