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Investigating the organisation of production of Bronze Age metalworkers is challenging because of the lack of direct archaeological traces related to bronze production. Workshops are scarcely excavated and are mostly known indirectly through waste pits containing leftovers from the production such as moulds fragments. Studying the context of production must therefore rely on indirect evidence coming from the artefacts themselves. One type of object can indeed be produced using different techniques. These technological choices are not only influenced by crafter's creativity: they also depend on socio-cultural factors. This makes possible the identification of production groups through common technological choices made at different steps of the chaîne opératoire, i.e. groups of metalworkers sharing common techniques and know-how. A recent PhD thesis by the author provides an overview of the production techniques of Bronze Age solid-hilted swords in Europe (Dumont, 2022). This paper aims at summarising the main results of this study. Using X-ray imaging techniques, such as radiography and CT-scan, as well as data from published studies, technological data of 634 swords in Europe out of 2,588 currently listed was collected. A technological classification framework was created to identify different chaînes opératoires. Using this new tool, it is possible to study of the evolution of the organisation of production of these swords throughout Bronze Age Europe. Three main phases are identified. The experimentation phase (1800-1450 BC) is characterised by several small-scale production units and a low technological standardisation. The monopoly phase (1450-900 BC) shows a stronger technological and stylistic standardisation. Swords may have been produced to order by few and centralised production units. Finally, the disruption phase (900-800 BC) sees the development of many different chaînes opératoires at the same time as a typological diversification. This matches a nuclearization of the production units linked to the emergence of new groups of users.
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