The “Metallurgist's Hoard”. Silver and Lead Smelting in the Early Medieval Poland

During archaeological research of early medieval settlement in Dąbrowa Górnicza - Łosień, a hoard of silver coins and silver smelts was discovered, over 1000 items in total. There was also found a mining shaft and numerous furnaces in the settlement area, confirming its mining and metallurgical character. The settlement development was based on excavating and smelting rich lead ores, containing significant amount of silver. Silver was separated from lead in successive stages with the help of cupellation. The paper presents the analyses of silver smelts and coins coming from the hoard. Optical and scanning microscopy were applied as well as the methods of chemical content analysis by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy in microareas (SEM-EDS), and also phase analysis with the help of X-Ray Diffraction method (XRD). The impurities of the silver clumps testify to the fact that they are semi-products. After refining and modifying the material by adding copper, denars were minted from it. The silver coins belonging the hoard are made from relatively pure material, including a small lead. An insignificant amount of other metallic elements testifies to the good quality of the raw material and efficiency of silver production in the early Middle Ages.