Research director, Materials Science Laboratory at VIAS, University Vienna

ORCID: 0000-0002-2044-1810

Since the year 2000, I have been the head of the materials science laboratory at VIAS and have conducted intensive research on the use of metals across nearly all historical periods, from Prehistory and the Middle Ages to Contemporary History. In 2002, I completed an ERASMUS semester at the Technical University of Mining and Metallurgy in Freiberg, Germany, to study materials science and ancient metallurgy. Since then, I have undertaken several research stays at the University of Tübingen, at CEZA Mannheim or at Bilkent University in Turkey to carry out archaeometallurgical research. SEM-EDS, pXRF, metallography, geochemistry and isotope analyses are regulary used within my studies to examine metal procurement and use during the prehistoric periods.

MAIN RESEARCH AREAS

• Metallurgy of copper, bronze and precious metals, metallurgy of iron
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), Metallography, portable XRF analyses
• Archaeological Science and method development, Cultural Heritage Studies
• Bronze casting technology and metal trade
• Mining Archaeology (Europe, Eurasia)
• Medieval Ages, Bronze Age, Iron Age
• Experimental Archaeology (copper, iron, precious metals)

MEDIEVAL AGES:

In recent years, I have examined medieval copper and iron production, as well as their use and exchange. My materials science analyses of the so-called “Holy Lance” revealed numerous technical modifications to this early medieval iron winged lance, reflecting its role within the imperial treasury of the medieval emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna.

The analysis of the early medieval gold hoard of Nagyszentmiklós – the largest gold hoard of its kind from that period in Europe – also yielded fascinating insights into alloying techniques.

The publication of the examinations of the medieval treasures from Fuchsenhof and Wiener Neustadt revealed the complexity of medieval metalworking and exchange networks. Furthermore, I conducted excavations at the medieval fortification of Neudegg, Lower Austria (see project homepages).

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PREHISTORY:

My materials science research on the spread of the so-called Urnfield bronzes from Europe to the Mediterranean demonstrated that bronze weapons and personal implements—produced in Northern Italy using copper from the Trentino region—were exported to the Aegean. These findings allow, for the first time, the longstanding debate on the dissemination of this weaponry and associated dress ornaments to be grounded in analytical evidence.

I also carried out materials science examinations of copper exchange in the western and central Balkans during the Middle to Late Bronze Age (MBA–LBA). The results surprisingly showed that copper supply in these regions was also dominated by the Trentino mining areas—a fact that had previously been completely unknown.

In addition, I was involved in the examination of the famous Valchitran gold hoard (Bulgaria), one of the largest known Late Bronze Age gold hoards in Europe (see project homepages).

RESEARCH PROJECTS : PREHISTORY – MEDIEVAL AGES (as Principal Investigator, selection)

• Materials science examinations of the medieval „Agnes“ candelabra in the Klosterneuburg monastery, A
• Archaeometallurgical analysis of the Holy Lance of the Treasury of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
• Excavations at the medieval fortification of Neudegg, Lower Austria
• The early Hungarian warrior grave from Gnadendorf, Lower Austria
• Early medieval blacksmith’s graves in Central Europe

• Hallmetals-Archaeometallurgical analyses on metals from the famous Iron Age cemetery of Hallstatt, Austria
• Metal exchange networks and hoard biographies in Late Bronze Age Romania
• Archaeometallurgical and mining archaeological studies on Bronze Age metallurgy in the Western Balkans (FWF project P 32095)

FUNCTIONS, BOARDS, SCIENTIFIC NETWORKS

COMMISSIONS OF TRUST AND PEER ACTIVITIES

Various international grant and science foundations (e.g. DFG-Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft)

• Journal of Archaeological Science
• Journal of World Prehistory
• PLOS ONE
• Etc.
•  

TEACHING EXPERIENCE (University Vienna, University Brno (CZ)

since 2003               yearly lectures in Archaeometallurgy and Natural sciences in Archaeology: Archaeometry at the University Vienna
since 1999               yearly lectures in Experimental Archaeology: Theory and practice at the Universities Vienna and Brno

ORGANISATION OF INTERNAT. CONFERENCES (8 in total)

Vienna 2021, International Conference : ALPENKUPFER III – Alpine Copper in the Vinschgau (28.5.-19.5.2021)
Organised by: Th. Koch Waldner, DBM Bochum and M. Mehofer, VIAS, Universität Wien

Vienna 2019, International Conference: Bronze Age Metallurgy production – consumption – exchange (22.5–24.5. 2019)
Organised by:  M. Mehofer, Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science, University Vienna; M. Gavranovic, OREA – Austrian Academy of Sciences

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

2017      director of the excavation “Der mittelalterliche Burgstall von Neudegg, NÖ”
2000       Field director at the excavation “Unterpullendorf / Burgenland” La Tène period, Iron ore mining field
since 1996 regular participation at numerous excavations

ACADEMIC CAREER

since 2023 Associated member : Research center HIMaT, University Innsbruck
08/2015                Invitation to the appointment procedure for the direction of the department of Archaeometallurgy at the Bergbaumuseum Bochum (succession Dr. A. Hauptmann).
since 2003             permanent employment at the VIAS, University Vienna
2002 ERASMUS exchange at the Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
since 01 / 2000    Head of the archaeometallurgical department at the VIAS, University Vienna
since 2000              Employment in many projects as researcher or Principle Investigator (PI) at the VIAS
2000 – 2001          Civil service
Since 01 / 1997   Employment as laboratory assistant at the archaeometallurgical laboratory of VIAS
since 1996              Employment in numerous research projects and excavations   

SEM-EDS at VIAS, Materials Science laboratory, Zeiss EVO 60 XVP, AZtec Ultim Max 170 dectector