Silver in Neolithic and Eneolithic Sardinia, in H. Meller/R. Risch/E. Pernicka (eds.), Metalle der Macht – Frühes Gold und Silber. 6. Mitteldeutscher Archäologentag vom 17. bis 19. Oktober 2013 in Halle (Saale), Tagungen des Landesmuseums für
- ️https://uniss.academia.edu/MariaGraziaMelis
Related papers
The 'island of silver veins': an overview of the earliest metal and metalworking in Sardinia
Metalla, 2017
This paper presents a review of our knowledge of the earliest phases of metal use and working in Sardinia, based where possible on radiocarbon chronology. It covers the cultural periods from the late Neolithic Ozie-ri to the Copper Age Monte Claro phase. I suggest that in contrast to continental Italy, the earliest metalwork in Sardinia seems to be used for display. It is striking that metal use and working seems to emerge in Sardinia later than in mainland Italy, despite the island's rich metal resources.
EP 191s Begemann et al Copper and bronze from nuragic Sardinia EJA 4-2001
We present data on the chemical and lead isotope composition of copper and bronze objects from Nuragic Sardinia. The sample suite compnses, inter alia, objects from the hoard finds at Arzachena (21 objects), Bonnanaro (10), Ittireddu (34), and Pattada , all in northem Sardinia. With one exception, ail ingot fragments (49) consist of unaiioyed coppec the exception Comes from Ittireddu and contains 11 per Cent tin. In contradistinction, all implements (21) are made from standard bronze with a mean tin content of 10.8 per Cent. A dozen sword fragments from the Arzachena hoard, aii of fairly uniform small size, are pieces of a large number of different swords. The low tin content of only about 1 per Cent would have made for poor weapons, confirming the archaeological identification of the fragments as pieces of votive swords. Scrap metal from Arzachena is remarkable for its wide range of trace element contents and lead isotope abundance ratios. It is dissimilar to all other metal samples investigated, possibly representing metal from local smelting expenments using a variety of different copper ores. Lead isotope data and trace element Patterns, aione or in conjunction, do not d o w us to tell oxhide ingots from plano-convex (bun) ingots. Most ingot fragments have a lead isotope signature similar to those of Cypriot copper ores but there are also a number of ingots whose lead isotope fingerprints are fully compatible with them being local products. Of the bronzes, none has lead with an isotopic composition characteristic of copper ingots from Cyprus. All contain local lead, suggesting the bronze implements were manufactured locally. Isotopically-fitting lead is found in copper and lead ore deposits i from the Iglesiente-Sulcis district in south-west Sardinia and from Funtana Raminosa in central Sardinia.
Early metallurgy in Sardinia: characterizing the evidence from Su Coddu
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2019
This paper contextualizes analyses of a collection of metal artifacts and ostensible metallurgical slag from the prehistoric settlement of Su Coddu in south-central Sardinia (ca. 3400-2850 BCE). To characterize the types of metals and associated alloys utilized by the earliest residents of Su Coddu, two pins and an unshaped lump of unknown composition were analyzed using portable XRF spectrometry. In addition to metal artifacts, a large quantity of putative slag was discovered at the site that is consistently cited as the earliest evidence of in situ smelting in prehistoric Sardinia. To reconstruct firing temperatures and characterize mineral phases, four samples of the overfired material were selected for thin section petrography and powder XRD analysis. The results of this study indicate that the two pins were made of copper while the unshaped lump was composed of pure lead, making it the earliest lead-based artifact on Sardinia. XRD and petrographic analyses of the fired "slags" reveal that these samples are unrelated to metallurgical smelting and are likely burnt wall coatings whose mineralogical phases correspond with unfired plasters also recovered from the site. These results in combination contribute towards understanding early metallurgical practices in Sardinia and are relevant in reconstructing the events that have shaped the life history of Su Coddu.
Mediterranean Silver Production and the Site of Antas, Sardinia
Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 2021
The article traces the development of Mediterranean silver production from the Iron Age to the time of Rome, focusing on the site of Antas, Sardinia. Antas is located in a rich metalliferous area, which served as a source of lead and silver beyond the regional level. The article takes data on the exploitation of metal resources as a gauge for Mediterranean developments, especially state formation and the rise in maritime connectivity. Sardinian Bronze Age chiefdoms seem not to have mined the local argentiferous ore. But studies of lead isotopes suggest that Iron Age chiefdoms began to do so in response to Phoenician demand. Metal extraction intensified under Carthaginian rule, reaching a peak under the Roman Empire. In addition, at Antas the Carthaginians initiated religious practices, which the Romans continued. This cult activity is hypothesized to result from the cross-culturally well attested connection between metallurgy and the world of the divine.
Archaeological Science - an introduction, 2020
Metals have always fascinated humans, for reasons ranging from practical through aesthetic to philosophical considerations. More than for other materials, this fascination can be seen to cover both the production of metals and their use. In most societies ceramics play a much more fundamental and ubiquitous role than metals, but it is only the high-end varieties, such as porcelain, terra sigillata or colourful glazed wares that attract particular attention. Few people, past and present, philosophise about the transformational processes involved in changing the plastic, pliable clay into a hard and rigid water-resistant ceramic. Interest in wool, linen and other fibres is almost entirely restricted to our obsession with fashion and the social expressions it allows, but the production processes involved are a minority interest and outside the general folklore. In contrast, metals play not only a role in many societies’ mythology and moral narrative, assigning notions of nobility, strength and value to them, but even their production forms the basis for many metaphors, tales and symbolic expressions. The ‘trial by fire’ makes direct reference to cupellation, an obscure and specialised metallurgical operation in which the quality of gold or silver is tested for any debasement by copper – but as a metaphor it already appears in the Old Testament, and is still understood today. ‘Brass’ evokes a very different connotation from ‘gold’ when talking about values and appearances. Prospects of a ‘mother lode’ or ‘bonanza’ resonate with many people even if they are not metal prospectors. In archaeology, metals not only make a disproportionally high contribution to structuring major periods of cultural development and evolution, but archaeometallurgists specialising in the study of their production have even been referred to as a ‘priesthood’ trying to exploit secret knowledge and driving hidden agendas, potentially not in the best interest of the wider scholarly community (Doonan and Day 2007); a charge that to the best of my knowledge has not been levelled against any other science-based discipline within archaeology, such as archaeo-botany or -zoology, or ceramic petrography. Clearly, metals fascinate humans, whether it is for the right or wrong reasons.
Bronze Age silver artifacts from Romania – an archaeo-metallurgical study
Bronze Age silver artifacts were found mainly in Extra-Carpathian region of Romania, despite Inter-Carpathian region (Transylvania) is famous for its rich in silver (until 30%) native gold. The most spectacular aspect of these Bronze Age artifacts is the predominant presence of 'exotic' alloys as auriferous silver and highcontent copper silver alloy. Our archaeo-metallurgical study was performed using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) non-destructive elemental analysis technique. The first artifacts studied were hair rings discovered in graves belonging to the early period of EBA (the second half of the fourth millennium BC -the first half of the third millennium BC) in Southern Romania, the most interesting item being a gilded silver spiral ring from Ariceştii Rahtivani. We continued with two cases of silver weapons: a dagger found at Poduri, Central Moldavia, made from a strange silver-copper alloy and the auriferous silver axes from Perşinari. Because the axes are broken, it was possible to investigate their bulk structure. The microscope examination revealed a mixture of silver alloys nuggets also including few gold nuggets, suggesting an incomplete melting. Auriferous silver was also identified in a metallic disc of Vulchitrun type found in Călăraşi. A comparison with other Bronze Age artifacts realized from similar 'exotic' alloys is discussed. The similarities with artifacts found in Eastern Mediterranean -Middle East area (auriferous silver) and with Kozarac-type axes found in former Yugoslavia, now in Axel Guttmann collection (high-content copper silver alloy) are evident. Despite it is not possible yet to distinguish between natural and anthropic alloys, the provenance of our artifacts from Eastern Mediterranean area, including Anatolia and possibly Caucasus, is a credible hypothesis.