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Troy has been of outstanding importance for Early Bronze Age archaeology ever since the discovery and excavation of the site by Heinrich Schliemann. Partly due to the paucity of archaeological research on EBA Anatolia, Troy has long been considered as the only key site for Western Anatolia and the Northern Aegean. However, as a result of recent excavations at other contemporary sites, it has become clear that Troy was not the only significant EBA settlement in this region and that its position as a key site is due for a reexamination. To explore the similarities and diversities of EBA cultures across the Northern-Aegean and Western Anatolia, an international conference entitled »Early Bronze Age Troy: Chronology, Cultural Development and Interregional Contacts« was held in early May 2009 at the University of Tübingen. Besides the general aspects of chronology and stratigraphy, it addressed themes such as the emergence of stratified societies, concepts of EBA economy and trade, production and distribution of raw materials and craft specialization with special reference to Troy itself.

These conference proceedings contain a foreword with an introduction by the editors and fourteen papers. They deal with LBA iron inlays on bronze artefacts from Central Europe, the EIA hoard from Fliess, Tyrol, and ore resources in the Eastern Alps, EIA metallurgy and specialisation, Iberian falcatae in the British Museum, the organisation of bloom smithing activities in LIA France, iron in the landscape of IA East Yorkshire, UK, preliminary results of surveys and excavations on smelting and forging in the Siegerland region, Germany, during the Latène Period, an urban fine smithing quarter in the oppidum of Rheinau, Switzerland, complex Celtic bronze technology by the examples of a boar-headed carnyx and a swan-shaped helmet from Tintignac, France, metallurgy and analysis of precious metal torcs from the IA Snettisham Treasure, UK, the XRF characterisation of Celtic silver from the Židovar treasure, Serbia, copper alloys and non-ferrous metal working in the oppidum of Manching, Germany, as evidence for resources and recycling, manufacturing techniques of silver jewellery from the LIA to Roman times in Central Europe and research on cultural interaction between Celts and Romans.

It is not always easy to decide whether an object of art or an antiquity is authentic or not. On the one hand, there is a gradual transition from “improving” restoration to outright deceit. On the other hand, the methods applied in the production of fakes become ever more sophisticated so that fakes are sometimes incorporated even in respected and well-known collections. This situation is even more unfortunate as these collections represent points of reference for further stylistic investigations and comparisons. Bochum-based foundation Situation Kunst owns a substantial collection of West African art which has been the subject of controversial opinions concerning its authenticity. The questions posed in the title of this book gave rise to an exchange of positions and experiences between art historians, ethnologists, scientists and restorers at a meeting at Ruhr-University Bochum in February 2007. The results of this memorable symposium are collected in this volume.