Scriber, graver, scorper, tracer: notes on experiments in bronze-working technique

In descriptions in the archaeological literature of the marks of workmanship characteristic of certain bronze objects of the insular Iron Age, confusion exists concerning terminology and possibly (though the imprecision of wording makes it difficult to be sure without re-examination of individual pieces) concerning technology also. Macrophotographs are seldom provided to illustrate discussion of Iron Age bronzework, even when marks of workmanship or supposed techniques of manufacture are cited as chronological or cultural symptoms, so that the confusion has been able to multiply and is now endemic in work in English in the field; individual publications need not be listed in this connection. In the present paper we illustrate, describe and as far as possible distinguish one series of tool marks experimentally produced, with notes on the methods used to produce it, in the hope of making clear the need for further experimental studies and an agreed descriptive terminology. We have chosen as the subject of the study a set of marks which illustrate some ideas associated with the so-called ‘rocked graver’ technique which have been specially liable to confusion. Since our intention is not to offer any new analysis of Iron Age bronzework, but to point out in a few details criteria which may be found useful and to offer a terminology of them, the notes are mostly concerned with the experimentally produced type series; few ancient objects are cited (as examples only, not necessarily insular, and with no implication that other ancient examples of the use of the same technique do not exist) and only two are illustrated, though references to accessible illustrations of others are given.