Indications of metal production of the catacomb cultures in the steppe zone of the North Caucasus piedmont and the southern part of the Don-Volga interfluve

In the paper the problem of metal production and metalworking of the Middle Bronze Age Catacomb culture tribes is discussed. Special attention is paid to the burial associations containing artefacts related to copper casting and metalwork (casting moulds, hammers, anvils etc.). The author considers metal objects from the point of view of morphology, microwear and metallographic analyses. The technology used by the Catacomb craftsmen is similar to what is known about the Circumpontic metal production of the period in question, yet some specific modes of metalworking are revealed typical of the North Caucasus steppe region.