The Oldest Evidence of Silver Processing in Europe

A Hoard from Košíky (Okr. Uherské Hradiště / CZ)

Abstract

The Oldest Evidence of Silver Processing in Europe. A Hoard from Košíky (Okr. Uherské Hradiště / CZ)

In the Early Eneolithic (4300–3800 BC), Europe saw an increased occurrence of both isolated copper finds and hoards. Since recently, we can add to them a small hoard from Košíky (SE Moravia / CZ). The Košíky hoard is unique, because it contained a new type of artefact – a copper hammer with a narrowed grip and flat-hammered working surface instead of a cutting edge. The authors conducted a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis that proved the occurrence of silver flakes sticking to the hammer’s working surface. The study introduces not only a still unknown type of copper industry, but also the first evidence of the early use of silver hammering in Europe.