Metal flow in the late Bronze Age across the Friuli-Venezia Giulia plain (Italy): new insights on Cervignano and Muscoli hoards by chemical and isotopic investigations

Abstract

Numerous metal hoards found in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Plain, North Eastern Italy, are archaeologically dated to the Recent and Final Bronze Age. Here the results of an archaeometric study of the copper-alloy artefacts and ingots from two such hoards (Cervignano del Friuli and Muscoli, Udine) are presented. The mineralogical, metallographic and chemical analyses of the copper objects indicate that the metallurgical process employed copper derived almost exclusively from chalcopyrite (±sphalerite, galena) as ore charge. Distinct typologies of ingots (plano-convex and parallel-surfaces) are characterized by different degrees of metal refining. Tools and weapons are made of carefully refined and compositionally-controlled bronze alloys, containing specific proportions of tin. These observations point out a high level of technological knowledge in metallic copper extraction and use. The chemical and lead-isotope compositions of most analysed ingots and artefacts suggest exploitation of copper deposits from the Southeastern Alps, including deposits from the Valsugana area and other mining districts of the Trentino-Alto Adige region. One peculiar sample characterized by a significant Sb content suggests possible mixing with "local" fahlerz copper from Carnia and one other ingot, showing a highly radiogenic lead isotope composition may be interpreted as copper from southern Tuscany or as a mixed metal incorporating a small quantity of copper from northerly Alpine sources such as Mitterberg.

Emergence of monopoly–Copper exchange networks during the Late Bronze Age in the western and central Balkans

“…One of them, the Cervignano hoard, (BA D-Ha A1), contains an ingot (Cer-PS 64) with 1.9% Sb, whilst the other artefacts do not show such elevated trace element concentrations. Based on these results, they interpret this ingot as a mixture of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena and tetrahedrite (Cu,Fe 12 Sb 4 S 13 ), like examples found in chalcopyrite from Calceranica/Vetriolo, and tetrahedrite from the Carnia or from Northern Tyrol [87,103]. Such mixing resulted in elevated trace elements, which is comparable to the pattern observed in our study.…”

“…The metal finds from the area of North Italy provide additional hints and a deeper insight into this phenomenon. Within a recent study, Caterina Canovaro and co-authors examined two hoards [103]. One of them, the Cervignano hoard, (BA D-Ha A1), contains an ingot (Cer-PS 64) with 1.9% Sb, whilst the other artefacts do not show such elevated trace element concentrations.…”

A Multi Analytical Characterization of a Small Bronze Figurine from Gran Carro Site (Bolsena Lake, Italy)

“…In fact, this step is carried out by reasoned comparison with an extensive database containing both geochemical and isotopic data of mineralizations of the Mediterranean area, developed over the years by the AAcP project (Alpine Archeocopper Project, 2022), and integrated by the most relevant data available in the literature (OXALID, 2018;BRETTSCAIFE, 2022;Ling et al, 2014;Nimis et al, 2012;Nimis et al, 2017;Artioli et al, 2016;Artioli et al, 2020;García De Madinabeitia et al, 2021;Tomczyk, 2022). As previously discussed, the reliability and good results of the method have been demonstrated by several studies recently carried out both on metal finds and on ores (Nimis, 2010;Artioli et al, 2017;Canovaro et al, 2019). The values of the isotope ratios of lead determined for the findings under study are summarized in Table 3, with the error at ±2SE.…”

A PCA-AHC Approach to Provenance Studies of Non-Ferrous Metals with Combined Pb Isotope and Chemistry Data

“…The significance of geological histories of deposits has also been underlined by D. J. Killick and colleagues (Killick et al, 2020: 87, 89; see also Baron et al, 2014: 669) and by J. Milot and co-authors specifically for Pb deposits (Milot et al, 2021). 3D Euclidean distances were also used on Pb isotopic data by several authors to trace the origin of copper alloy artefacts (Canovaro et al, 2019, Artioli et al, 2017and Stos, 2009.…”