Research director, Materials Science Laboratory at VIAS, University of Vienna

ORCID: 0000-0002-2044-1810

Since 2000, I have led the materials science laboratory at VIAS, conducting intensive research in archaeometallurgy across nearly all historical periods, from Prehistory to the Middle Ages. Drawing on my engineering background, I possess extensive expertise in materials science and prehistoric metallurgy. My research regularly employs advanced analytical techniques such as SEM-EDS, pXRF, metallography, geochemistry, and isotope analysis to investigate metal procurement, production, and use. Complementary studies in Prehistory and Medieval Archaeology have provided me with an optimal understanding of cultural-historical questions. In 2002, I completed an ERASMUS semester abroad at the Technical University of Mining and Metallurgy in Freiberg, Germany, to study materials science and ancient metallurgy. Subsequent research stays e.g. at the University of Isfahan (Iran), Curt Engelhorn center for Archaeometry Mannheim, University of Tübingen or at the Bilkent University in Turkey deepened my expertise in copper, bronze and iron archaeometallurgy. In 2015 I was invited to participate in the selection process for the directorship at the department of Archaeometallurgy at the Bergbaumuseum Bochum, D (succession of Prof. Dr. A. Hauptmann). Since 2023 I have been associated member of the Research center HiMat (History of Mining Activities in Tyrol and adjacent areas – impact on environment and human societies), University Innsbruck. I have published 103 articles (peer reviewed), authored 1 monograph and have edited and co-edited five volumes and conference proceedings covering archaeometallurgical and mining archaeological topics from prehistory to the medieval period. I have organised and co-organised eight international workshops and conferences such as e.g. the International Conference „Bronze Age Metallurgy. Production – Consumption – Exchange” (2019) or the international workshop “Alpenkupfer im Vinschgau – Alpine copper in the Vinschgau” (2021), together with the Deutsches Bergbaumuseum Bochum. Furthermore, I give lectures in materials science and experimental archaeometallurgy at the Universities Vienna and Brno, and supervise BA, MA and PhD students.

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)

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)

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).

---

PREHISTORY:

Recently, I started an EU-HORIZON2020-IPERION funded project on copper procurement, mixing and recycling during the Early Iron Age in Middle Europe. The metal finds from the world famous burial ground of Hallstatt serve as case study (see below). 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.

FUNCTIONS, BOARDS, SCIENTIFIC NETWORKS

ACADEMIC CAREER

2015 Invitation to the appointment procedure for the directorship of the department of Archaeometallurgy at the Bergbaumuseum Bochum (succession Dr. A. Hauptmann).
2003 permanent employment at the VIAS, University Vienna
2002 ERASMUS exchange at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
2000 Head of the materials science – archaeometallurgical department at the VIAS, University Vienna
2000 Employment in many projects as researcher or Principle Investigator (PI) at the VIAS
2000 – 2001 Civil service
1997 Employment as laboratory assistant at the archaeometallurgical laboratory of VIAS
1996 Employment in numerous research projects and excavations

• 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

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

Since 2000           Regular participation in international conferences as invited speaker on materials science topics in cultural Heritage Science and Archaeology such as Archaeometallurgy in Europe, annual meetings of the EAA – European Association for Archaeologists etc.

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

 

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