Abstract
The present work is the first thorough analysis of the Czech Eneolithic copper industry, which is based largely on original documentation of findings and attempts to complete the synthesis of sources. From a chronological point of view, this work covers the entire period of the Eneolithic from the early occurence of the copper industry in the Czech Republic from around 4200 B.C. until 2200 B.C. (e.g.
Beaker cultures). It is based on several methodological approaches.
The first attention is given to the typology of artifacts already in the territory, especially of rare finds from the older period, datable only by matching morphology with finds from better determined chronological contexts from neighbouring regions. The second focus is based on the analysis of material composition of the metal from which the artifacts are made in pursuit of their placement in the overall development of Central European metalurgy, and also in comparison to Southern European metalurgy.
The result is a synthesis of various sources respecting morphological developments, origins, typological and functional variety, and other connections of Bohemian Eneolithic copper artifacts within the context of these chronological horizons.