Metal provenancing using isotopes and the Oxford archaeological lead isotope database (OXALID)

Abstract

This paper reviews the research into the methodology of lead isotope provenance studies carried out at the University of Oxford between 1975 and, at first in the Department of Geology (Geological Age and Isotope Research Laboratory), later in the Isotrace Laboratory based in the Department of Nuclear Physics, and eventually part of the Research Laboratory of Archaeology and the History of Art. These 27 years of intensive work, funded initially by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk, and later from numerous UK Government and Charitable funds and finally by the Institute of Aegean Prehistory laid the foundations of the lead isotope provenance methodology and resulted in a large database of analytical isotope and elemental results. In spite of the efforts of the authors, this database is still not comprehensively published or easily accessible in a digital format by all researchers interested in using this method for their projects. The possibilities of advancing this situation are discussed. The authors discuss in detail the basic restrictions and advantages of using the lead isotope compositions of ores in mineral deposits for finding the origin of the raw materials used for making ancient artefacts. Methods for the scientific interpretation of the data are discussed, including attempts to use statistical methods. The methodology of creating the Oxford lead isotope database (OXALID) is outlined and a summary is given of the lead isotope resource provided by OXALID.

Bronze Age metal artefacts found on Cyprus - metal from Anatolia and the Western Mediterranean

“…Some lead isotope data published in the geological journals also can be used. The available information has been entered on a database of lead isotope compositions relevant to the research into Bronze Age Mediterranean trade in metals and was used for the purpose of this paper (OXALID - StosGale and Gale 2009 Stos-Gale and Gale 2009), and identification of ore data identical within ±1s with the data for the each artefact to identify possible sources of the ore.…”

Le complexe d’ateliers du Cabezo del Pino (Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La Unión, Murcia) et l’organisation de l’activité minière à <em>Carthago Noua</em> à la fin de la République romaine. Apports croisés de l’archéologie et de la géochimie

“…Les isotopes du plomb permettent d'éta-blir des liens entre des matériaux métalliques et des gisements sources. Les apports de l'utilisation des isotopes du plomb en paléométallurgie ne sont plus à démontrer (Pernicka et alli 1993;Cattin et alli 2009 ;Stos-Gale et Gale 2009;Baron et Coustures 2015). Néanmoins, des limites, inhérentes à la plupart des traceurs, nécessitent une certaine prudence quant à la restitution des sources de provenance.…”

Archaeological and Geological Concepts on the Topic of Ancient Mining

“…Isotopic composition of the ore body (a form of ore finger-printing) and artifacts provides possible linkages to provenance as well as helping us to suggest certain trading patterns of goods among ancient settlements. LIA is based on measuring 204 Pb,206 Pb,207 Pb and 208 Pb isotopes of lead with the aid of a mass spectrometer, especially a multi collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (hereafter; MC-ICPMS) which provides high accuracy (Stos- Gale and Gale, 2009 and references cited here, . The basic methodology of lead isotope analysis on metals involves the application of multivariate statistics and interpretation of the scientific data.…”