On the Composition and Provenance of Metal Artefacts From Poliochni on Lemnos

Abstract

The majority of the well-stratified Early Bronze Age metal objects from Poliochni, with the exclusion of one hoard find, was analyzed for their chemical and lead isotope composition. The results show that a major change occurred in the metal used at Poliochni during periods contemporary with Troy I and Troy II. Unalloyed or arsenical copper with relatively high lead contents during the earliest two periods 'auurro ' and 'verde ' is gradually replaced and supplemented by tin bronze which, during period 'giallo ', i.e., by the end of Troy It, becomes the dominant metal type. Lead isotope abundance ratios in the earlier artefacts are consistent with a derivation of the metal from regional ore sources but the trace element abundance pattern is not. Concurrent with the appearance of tin bronzes is an increase in the diversity of ore deposits exploited; for about one third of the artefacts from period 'giallo' there is as yet no matching ore source in all Anatolia and the Eastern Mediterranean. It is argued that the tin bronzes have been imported as such but that the lead isotope signature does not provide any direct clues to the origin of the tin.

An Archaeo-Metallurgical Study of the Early and Middle Bronze Age in Luristan, Iran

“…This point is not trivial. Indeed, previous experience, at Poliochni on Lemnos (Pernicka et al 1990), in Bulgaria (Pernicka et al 1997 . Also shown in the inserts, as diamonds, are the isotopic compositions of lead in copper ores from occurrences at Ahangaran.…”

An Experimental Investigation on Lead Isotopic Fractionation During Metallurgical Processes

“…Gale and Stos‐Gale (1982) began to trace impure copper objects to their lead‐bearing copper ores using this method. Since then, this method has been widely used to provenance lead‐bearing artefacts (e.g., Gale and Stos‐Gale 1989; Pernicka et al . 1990).…”

How Mineralogy and Geochemistry Can Improve the Significance of Pb Isotopes in Metal Provenance Studies

“…Over recent decades, many metal provenance studies have used several ‘ore databases’ established during the 1990s by various laboratories (e.g., Pernicka et al . ; Yener et al . ; Sayre et al .…”

“…The 'ore databases ': use and relevance Over recent decades, many metal provenance studies have used several 'ore databases' established during the 1990s by various laboratories (e.g., Pernicka et al 1990;Yener et al 1991;Sayre et al 1992;Rohl 1996;Stos-Gale et al 1998;Gale 1999). These databases are valuable and they allow us to reject some geographical regions as potential sources within a given metal provenance study.…”