Vidra-type axe-hammer made of copper, characteristic of Gumelnita tools made in solid copper (origin : Izvoare, district : Neamt).
The evolution of the great cultural groups at the beginning of Chalcolithique (Vinca, Gumelnita, Cucuteni) generated the appearance of metallurgical "centers" made distinct from one another, from the point of view of typology, by the diverse range of copper objects produced. These ranged from small jewellery to tools like axe heavy hammers, or axes with crossed edges.
The populations of these cultures used native copper and gold ; the precious metal being used for jewellry and clothing accessories and the copper for tool-making.
The metallurgical center of the Gumelnita culture is distinguished mainly by the production of axe-hammers known as Vidra type hammers, and stickpins with a double volute decorating the head. Up until now, on the Hârsova tell, at the level of the Gumelnita culture, few copper objects have been found. The majority of them are very small tools used in daily life, to which were added small jewels.
Small tools (scissors, punches) and copper jewelry from the Gumelnita culture discovered at the Hârsova tell.
Copper punches with handles made of the metapode of a sheep. On the left, the handle in bone breaks apart when heated revealing the copper stem constituting the punch.