Rituals, Hoards and Travellers? Archaeometry of the Iron Age Bronze Wheel Amulets

late Iron Age (3rd to 1st century BC). The type with eight spokes, which most resembles a real chariot
wheel, was discovered to be made of a specific alloy containing a large amount of lead and a significant
amount of antimony, plus traces of silver and arsenic. This combination of elements signifies the use
of a copper known as fahlore (tetrahedrite). Its use in Bohemia after the early Bronze Age is rarely
observed, if at all. These amulets are therefore a conspicuous exception. Research in Bavaria has
revealed other objects made from fahlore copper. Another connection to Bavaria may be indicated by
coin hoards accompanied by bronze closure rings of a similar alloy design. Other cases may suggest
that antimony was added as a separate component. Here we discuss the composition and provenance of
these objects from the perspective of compositional and lead isotope analysis.