The metal finds from Keber Tepe comprise three different find complexes: the finds from the systematic excavations, the finds from the systematic inspections and individual finds that were found outside the surveyed fields and the excavations.

Many of the individual finds came from the plough horizon; several bronze vessels were largely completely preserved, for example a jug with a cloverleaf mouth and iron handle, which is quite similar to a piece from the Dülük Baba Tepesi monastery and probably dates to the same period of the Early Middle Ages. However, the jug from Keber Tepe had obviously been deposited as scrap metal – the base is damaged and a folded metal sheet had been pushed into the jug. A large, richly decorated bronze basin was found together with a piece of the rim of a large plate. The latter bears an egg-rod decoration on the outside and on the rim. It is a mould that was imitated in fine pottery and can be identified as ESA mould Atlante 9. This results in a date of 50-25 BC, which is also possible for the richly decorated piece.

Several window grilles, whose barbs are both elongated and curved, were preserved in large pieces. It is difficult to date them – but if one assumes that the settlement ended in the Middle Ages and considers that these finds were close to the surface, a late date within the settlement period is probably the most likely.

Around three quarters of all metal finds recorded are nails, which only in exceptional cases do not originate from the excavations. Numerous fragments of bronze sculptures came from the excavations on field 415, indicating that statues were smashed on site in order to prepare the metal for recycling. Not far from here, a Roman barber’s set was discovered: it consists of a razor and two hair-cutting blades. The location of the Dolichen barber’s tools fits in very well with the function of the finds: they were found directly to the north of the bath building. The palaestra could have been located here, where a barber could have offered his trade.

Of particular technological interest are two deposits of padlocks: one from the Roman period and one from the Byzantine period. Six of the padlocks from the Roman period are box-shaped, one is round. There are also various keys and three expanding spring elements that do not belong to these box locks. These and an approximately 30 cm long pair of blacksmith’s tongs, which were firmly corroded to one of the box locks, suggest that this was a blacksmith’s scrap iron depot. The workshop could be located in the vicinity of the depot.

The function of the shackle locks is based on an expanding spring element that is pushed onto the shackle until the springs engage in the box and expand there. The key can be inserted from the opposite side to compress the expanding springs so that they can slide out of the box again to open the lock. Various empirical values have obviously been incorporated into the construction of such a lock: The shackle is forged in one piece with the cover plate, as an attached shackle would represent an unnecessary weak point on the lock; it could be torn from the cover plate by force. The front plate is reinforced to prevent the expanding springs from being levered out of the box.

The spectrum of the Byzantine iron depot also includes locks, keys, slugs and other lock elements. A fine forged anvil again indicates a workshop context. Here too, the shackle was apparently made in one piece with the box, whereby the box is cylindrical and made in one piece. Overall, the Byzantine locks are smaller and more compact.

Expert & Author

Dr. Constanze Höpken
Find Processing: Glass & Metal
Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie