Copper Ornaments in the Iberian Chalcolithic

Murillo-Barroso, Mercedes; Montero‐Ruiz, Ignacio

doi:10.1558/jmea.v25i1.53

Cited by 35 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…An absence or low incidence of ornaments is common in Chalcolithic collections, perhaps suggesting that copper ornaments had not reached an aesthetic and prestige value like those made of gold. Weapon types comprise arrowheads and daggers, which could serve many general purposes. Some consider them as tools related with everyday life tasks or ceremonial practices, as for instance the case of daggers.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro‐EDXRF study of Chalcolithic copper‐based artefacts from Southern Portugal

et al. 2015

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A collection of 39 metallic artefacts recovered in archaeological sites of Southern Portugal was studied by micro‐EDXRF to identify their compositions and the use of metal among ancient communities. Artefacts presented different typologies such as tools (e.g. awls, chisels and a saw) and weapons (e.g. daggers and arrowheads) mostly belonging to 2500–2000 BC. The results show copper with variable amounts of As and very low content of other impurities, such as Fe, Pb or Sb. Moreover, nearly half of the collection is composed by arsenical copper alloys, and an association was found between arsenic content and typology because the weapons group (mostly daggers) present higher values than tools (mostly awls). These results suggest some criteria in the selection of arsenic‐rich copper ores or smelting products. Finally, the compositions were compared to those of other collections from neighbouring regions and different chronology to determine metallurgical parallels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro‐EDXRF study of Chalcolithic copper‐based artefacts from Southern Portugal

et al. 2015

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“…The São Brás hoard accounts for a total of about 6.4 kg and 28 artefacts, being mostly composed, as already mentioned, of tools and a few weapons (Soares , 400–7). The absence of ornaments made of copper is common in the early archaeological record of the Iberian Peninsula, a feature that is thought to reflect the lack of aesthetic value of this metal during the Chalcolithic period (Murillo‐Barroso and Montero‐Ruiz ).…”

Section: The São Brás Hoardmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Composition of the São Brás Copper Hoard in Relation to the Bell Beaker Metallurgy in the South‐western Iberian Peninsula

et al. 2018

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A large ceramic vessel was discovered at São Brás (southern Portugal) containing a metallic hoard from the Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age period. These weapons and tools were characterized by microanalytical techniques as being composed of copper with varying arsenic contents (2.2 ± 1.6 wt%) and minor amounts of lead, bismuth and iron. The collection shows a clear association between daggers and copper with a higher arsenic content, which can be explained by the high status of these silvery alloys. Finally, the compositional distribution of the hoard was compared with the metallurgy of the Bell Beaker and non-Bell Beaker communities inhabiting the south-western Iberian Peninsula.

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“…This technology does not seem to build upon either the existing silver‐ or copper‐based metallurgies native to Iberia: these are quite rudimentary and straightforward, based on open‐cast procedures without the addition of any flux (Murillo‐Barroso and Montero‐Ruiz ; Renzi et al . ; Rovira ).…”

Section: Archaeological Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

The Macro‐Regional Scale of Silver Production in Iberia During the First Millennium BC in the Context of Mediterranean Contacts

Murillo-Barroso¹,

Montero‐Ruiz

Rafel

et al. 2016

Oxford J Archaeology

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Summary The extraction of silver has traditionally been considered as one of the main incentives for the Phoenician expansion throughout the Mediterranean and their settlement in Iberia. In this paper, we approach the organization of silver production in Iberia during the Early Iron Age through the study of the evidence of production currently available and the development of Lead Isotope Analysis (LIA). Previous results (Hunt 2003; Stos Gale 2001; Kassianidou 1992) are considered in the light of new data. The extraction of silver from complex minerals noticeably intensifies in south‐west Iberia. Imports of exogenous lead, needed for the extraction of silver from these complex minerals, are evident. Supplies of lead come in from other regions of Iberia, such as Gádor, Cartagena/Mazarrón, Linares or even the mining district of Molar‐Belmunt‐Falset (MBF) in Catalonia. This picture reveals that the organization of silver production was much more complex than initially thought, with the articulation of an exchange network of raw materials at a macro‐territorial scale embracing almost all Iberia. The socioeconomic implications that control of these networks of lead distribution could have had are also discussed.

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Copper Ornaments in the Iberian Chalcolithic

Cited by 35 publications

References 37 publications

Micro‐EDXRF study of Chalcolithic copper‐based artefacts from Southern Portugal

Micro‐EDXRF study of Chalcolithic copper‐based artefacts from Southern Portugal

The Composition of the São Brás Copper Hoard in Relation to the Bell Beaker Metallurgy in the South‐western Iberian Peninsula

The Macro‐Regional Scale of Silver Production in Iberia During the First Millennium BC in the Context of Mediterranean Contacts

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