ABSTRACT
Three perceptive categories of casting quality are employed in which to group the axes: low-quality casts, moderate-quality casts, and high-quality casts. The last group of measurements that will be analysed with the use of perceptive categories is the morphological attributes of an axe, including weight. Notwithstanding, from the perspective of metalworking craftsmanship, it does not really matter whether the copper additionally contains, for example, 0.7% gold and/or 0.3% iron as the effect is small and unlikely to be recognised from a sensory handling of the material. Concerning mechanical properties, arsenic renders copper more malleable and more ductile. Nickel occurs together with arsenic and antimony in similar bodies of ore in the Eastern Alps. Silver does not act as a de-oxidising agent. Tin has a profound effect on both the mechanical and physical properties of copper. Hot-shorts occur but only if the metal is annealed too intensely, or when attempts are made to hot-work copper that contains more than 8% tin.
