We present data on the chemical and lead isotope composition of copper and bronze objects from Nuragic Sardinia. The sample suite comprises, inter alia, objects from the hoard finds at Arzachena (21 objects), Bonnanaro (10), Ittireddu (34), and Pattada (20), all in northern Sardinia. With one exception, all ingot fragments (49) consist of unalloyed copper; 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, all 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 experiments using a variety of different copper ores. Lead isotope data and trace element patterns, alone or in conjunction, do not allow 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 from the Iglesiente-Sulcis district in south-west Sardinia and from Funtana Raminosa in central Sardinia.
BAFICO, S., R. D'ORIANO and F. LO SCHIAVO, 1995. Il villaggio nuragico di S. Imbenia ad Alghero (SS). Nota preliminare. Actes du III e Congre °s International des Etudes Pheniciennes et Puniques, Tunis 11–16 Nov. 1991, I:87–98.
2.
BALMUTH, M.S. and R.F. TYLECOTE, 1976. Ancient copper and bronze in Sardinia: excavation and analyses. Journal of Field Archaeology3:195–210.
3.
BASS, G.F., 1967. Cape Gelidonya: a Bronze Age shipwreck. Trans. Am. Phil. Soc.57(8), Philadelphia.
4.
BASS, G.F., 1986. A Bronze Age shipwreck at Ulu Burun (Kas): 1984 campaign. Amer. J. Archaeology90:269–296.
5.
BEGEMANN, F., E. PERNICKA and S. SCHMITT-STRECKER, 1994. Metal finds from Ilipinar and the advent of arsenical copper. AnatolicaXX:203–219.
6.
BEGEMANN, F., K. KALLAS, S. SCHMITT-STRECKER, and E. PERNICKA, 1999. Tracing ancient tin via isotope analyses. In A. Hauptmann, E. Pernicka, T. Rehren, and Uª. Yalcin (eds), The Beginnings of Metallurgy. Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 9:277–284. Deutsches Bergbau-Museum, Bochum.
7.
BONI, M. and V. KOªPPEL, 1985. Ore-lead isotope pattern from the Iglesiente-Sulcis Area (SW Sardinia) and the problem of remobilization of metals. Mineralium Deposita20:185–193.
8.
BUCHHOLZ, H.G., 1959. Keftiubarren und Erzhandel im zweiten vorchristlichen Jahrtausend. Pra ª hist. Zeitschr. 37:1–40.
9.
BUCHHOLZ, H.G., 1980. Metallurgie. In J. Thimme (ed.), Kunst und Kultur Sardiniens vom Neolithikum bis zum Ende der Nuraghenzeit: 142–155. Karlsruhe: C.F. Mu ª ller.
10.
BUDD, P., A.M.POLLARD, B.SCAIFE and R.G. THOMAS, 1995. Oxhide ingots, recycling and the Mediterranean metals trade. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology8:1–32.
11.
CAMPUS, F. and V. LEONELLI, 1999. Considerazioni sui vasi-contenitori di lingotti di tipo oxhide e piano-convessi in ambito nuragico. Simposio Italiano di Studi Egei in onore di Luigi Bernabo ° Brea e Giovanni Pugliese Carratelli, Roma: 512–516.
12.
CATLING, H.W., 1980. Cyprus and the West 1600–1050 BC. Sheffield.
13.
CHERRY, J. F. and A.B. KNAPP, 1991. Quantitative provenance studies and Bronze Age trade in the Mediterranean: some preliminary reflections. In N.H. Gale (ed.), Bronze Age Trade in the Mediterranean. Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 90:92–119. Go ª teborg: P. Astro ª m's Fo ª rlag.
CINCOTTI, A., G. DEMURTAS, and F. LO SCHIAVO, 1998. Copper-arsenic in the prehistory of Sardinia. Archaeometric determinations. BUMA IV:159–164. Paper given at the conference on 25–27 May 1998; Matsue, Shimane, Japan.
16.
CRADDOCK, P.T. and M.S. TITE, 1984. Report on the composition of bronzes from the hoard found at Santa Maria in Paulis, Sardinia. In E. Macnamara, D. Ridgway and F.R. Ridgway (eds), The Bronze Hoard from Santa Maria in Paulis, Sardinia: 19–21. London: British Museum.
17.
FERRARESE CERUTI, M.L., 1962. Nota preliminare alla I e II campagna di scavonel nuraghe Albucciu (Arzachena, Sassari). Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche17:161–204.
18.
FERRARESE CERUTI, M.L. and F. LO SCHIAVO, 1992. La Sardegna. In Atti del Congresso `L'eta ° del Bronzo in Italia nei secoli dal XVI al XIV a.C.', Firenze 1992. Rassegna di Archeologia10:123–141.
19.
GALE, N. H., 1989. Archaeometallurgical studies of Late Bronze Age ox-hide copper ingots from the Mediterranean region. In A. Hauptmann, E. Pernicka and G.A. Wagner (eds), Old World Archaeometallurgy. Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 7:247– 268. Deutsches Bergbau-Museum, Bochum.
20.
GALE, N. H., 1991. Copper oxhide ingots: Their origin and their place in the Bronze Age metals trade in the Mediterranean. In N.H. Gale (ed.), Bronze Age Trade in the Mediterranean. Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 90:197–239. Go ª teborg: P. Astro ª m's Fo ª rlag.
21.
GALE, N.H. and Z.A. STOS-GALE, 1982. Bronze Age copper sources in the Mediterranean: A new approach. Science216:11–19.
22.
GALE, N.H. and Z.A. STOS-GALE, 1987. Oxhide ingots from Sardinia, Crete and Cyprus and the Bronze Age copper trade: New scientific evidence. In M. Balmuth (ed.), Studies in Sardinian Archaeology. BAR International Series 387:135–178.
23.
GALE, N.H. and Z.A. STOS-GALE, 1995. Comments on `Oxhide ingots, recycling, and the Mediterranean metals trade'. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology8:33–41.
24.
GALE, N.H., Z.A. STOS-GALE, G. MALIOTIS and N. ANNETTS, 1997. Lead isotope data from the Isotrace Laboratory, Oxford: Archaeometry data base 4, ores from Cyprus. Archaeometry39:237–246.
25.
GALLI, F., 1984. Scavi nel nuraghe Funtana di Ittireddu (Sassari). Nuovo Bullettino Archeologico Sardo1:115–122.
26.
GALLI, F., 1985/1989. Nota preliminare alla III e IV campagna di scavo al Nuraghe Funtana (Ittireddu-Sassari). Nuovo Bullettino Archeologico Sardo2:87–108.
27.
GARAGNANI, G.L. and C. MARTINI, 1996. Microstructural investigations of copper oxhide and plano-convex ingots from Sardinia. Proceedings of the 1st International Congress on `Science and Technology for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Basin', Catania, Nov 27–Dec 2, 1995.
28.
GOªRSDORF, J. and J. BOJADZIEV, 1997. Zur absoluten Chronologie der bulgarischen Urgeschichte. Berliner 14Datierungen von bulgarischen archa ª ologischen ª tzen. Eurasia Antiqua2:105–173.
29.
HALL, M., 1995. Comments on `Oxhide ingots, recycling, and the Mediterranean metals trade'. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology8:42–44.
30.
JONES, R. and L. VAGNETTI, 1991. Traders and craftsmen in the central Mediterranean: archaeological evidence and archaeometric research. In N.H. Gale (ed.), Bronze Age Trade in the Mediterranean. Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 90:127– 147. Go ª teborg: P. Astro ª m's Fo ª rlag.
31.
JUNGHANS, S., E. SANGMEISTER, and M. SCHROªDER, 1960. Metallanalysen kupferzeitlicher und fru ª hbronzezeitlicher Bodenfunde aus Europa, Studien zu den Anfa ª ngen der Metallurgie (≡ SAM) I. Berlin: Mann.
32.
KARAGEORGHIS, V. and F. Lo SCHIAVO, 1989. A West Mediterranean obelos from Amathus. Rivista di Studi Fenici XVII, 1:15–29.
33.
KNAPP, A.B., 2000. Archaeology, science-based archaeology and the Mediterranean Bronze Age metals trade. European Journal of Archaeology3(1):31–56.
34.
KNAPP, A.B., J.D. MUHLY and P.M. MUHLY, 1988. To hoard is human: late Bronze Age metal deposits in Cyprus and the Aegean. Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus: 233–262.
35.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1978. Matrici di fusione ed altri materiali nuragici. In Sardegna centroorientale, dal neolitico alla fine del mondo antico: 111–114. Sassari.
36.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1980. Waffen, Werkzeuge und Schmuck aus Bronze. In J. Thimme (ed.), Kunst und Kultur Sardiniens vom Neolithikum bis zum Ende der Nuraghenzeit: 134–142. Karlsruhe: C.F. Mu ª ller.
37.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1981. Economia e societa ° nell'eta ° dei nuraghi. Ichnussa: 295–347. Milano.
38.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1982. Copper metallurgy in Sardinia during the late Bronze Age: New prospects on its Aegean connections. In J.D. Muhly, R. Maddin and V. Karageorghis (eds), Early Metallurgy in Cyprus 4000–500 BC: 271–283. Acta of the International Archaeological Symposium, Larnaca, June 1–6, 1981. Nicosia.
39.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1986. L'eta ° nuragica. In F. Lo Schiavo (ed.), Il Museo Sanna in Sassari: 63–110. Sassari.
40.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1988a. Il ripostiglio di Chilivani, Ozieri (Sassari). In Quaderni Sopr. Arch. Cagliari e Oristano 5:77–90.
41.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1988b. Early metallurgy in Sardinia. In R. Maddin (ed.), Second International Conference on the Beginning of the Use of Metals and Alloys: 92–103. Zhengzhou, China.
42.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1989. Le origini della metallurgia ed il problema della metallurgia nella cultura di Ozieri. La Cultura di Ozieri. Problematiche e nuove acquisizioni: 279–291. Ozieri.
43.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1990a. Le `daghe' del ripostiglio di Chilivani (Ozieri, Sassari): un fortunato rinvenimento. Quaderni Sopr. Arch. Cagliari e Oristano 7:105–115.
44.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1990b. Lingotti oxhide e piano-convessi in Sardegna – Copper oxhide and plano-convex ingots in Sardinia. In F. Lo Schiavo and R. Maddin (eds), Analisi metallurgiche e statistiche sui lingotti di rame della Sardegna – Metallographic and statistical analyses of copper ingots from Sardinia. Quaderni Sopr. Arch. Sassari e Nuoro 17: 14–40.
45.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1992. Una matrice di fusione dal Monte Acuto (Berchidda-Sassari). Sardinia antiqua, Studi in onore di Piero Meloni: 153–163. Cagliari.
46.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1994. Doro Levi e i bronzi nuragici. Omaggio a Doro Levi, Quaderni Sopr. Arch. Sassari e Nuoro 18:61–81.
47.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1998a. Zur Herstellung und Distribution bronzezeitlicher Metallgegensta ª nde im nuraghischen Sardinien. In B. Ha ª nsel (ed.), Mensch und Umwelt in der Bronzezeit Europas: 193–216. Kiel.
48.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1998b. Sardinian oxhide ingots 1998. In T. Rehren, A. Hauptmann, and J.D. Muhly (eds), Metallurgica Antiqua. In honour of Hans-Gert Bachmann and Robert Maddin. Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 8:99–112. Deutsches Bergbau-Museum, Bochum.
49.
LO SCHIAVO, F., 1999. I lingotti oxhide nel Mediterraneo ed in Europa Centrale. Simposio Italiano di Studi Egei in onore di Luigi Bernabo ° Brea e Giovanni Pugliese Carratelli, Roma: 499–508.
50.
LO SCHIAVO, F. and L. USAI, 1996. Testimonianze cultuali di eta ° su Benatzu di Santadi. Carbonia e il Sulcis. Archeologia e territorio-: 147–190. Carbonia.
51.
LO SCHIAVO, F. and L. VAGNETTI, 1980. Micenei in Sardegna?Rendiconti dell' Accademia dei Lincei, cl.scienze moraliXXXV(5–6):371–391.
52.
LO SCHIAVO, F., E. MACNAMARA and L. VAGNETTI, 1985. Late Cypriot imports to Italy and their influence on local bronzework. Papers of the British School at Rome53: 1–71.
53.
LO SCHIAVO, F., T. STECH, R. MADDIN and J.D. MUHLY, 1987. Nuragic Metallurgy in Sardinia: second preliminary report. In M. Balmuth (ed.), Studies in Sardinian Archaeology 3. BAR, International Series 387:179–187.
54.
MADDIN, R., 1989. The copper and tin ingots from the Kas shipwreck. In A. Hauptmann, E. Pernicka, and G.A. Wagner (eds), Old World Archaeometallurgy. Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 7:99–105. Bochum: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum.
55.
MADDIN, R. and J. MERKEL, 1990. Analisi metallografiche e statistiche – Metallographic and statistical analyses. In F. Lo Schiavo and R. Maddin (eds), Analisi metallurgiche e statistiche sui lingotti di rame della Sardegna – Metallographic and statistical analyses of copper ingots from Sardinia. Quaderni Sopr. Arch. Sassari e Nuoro 17:42– 199. Ozieri.
56.
MONTEAGUDO, L., 1977. Die Beile auf der Iberischen Halbinsel. Mu ª nchen. PBF. IX, 6.
57.
MUHLY, J.D., 1985. Lead isotope analysis and the problem of lead in copper. Report, Department of Antiquities, Cyprus: 78–82.
58.
MUHLY, J.D., 1991. The development of copper metallurgy in late Bronze Age Cyprus. In N.H. Gale (ed.), Bronze Age Trade in the Mediterranean. Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 90: 180–196. Go ª teborg: P. Astro ª m's Fo ª rlag.
59.
MUHLY, J.D., 1995. Lead isotope analysis and the archaeologist. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology8:54–58.
60.
MUHLY, J.D. and T. STECH, 1990. Osservazioni conclusive – Final observations. In F. Lo Schiavo and R. Maddin (eds), Analisi metallurgiche e statistiche sui lingotti di rame della Sardegna – Metallographic and statistical analyses of copper ingots from Sardinia. Quaderni Sopr. Arch. Sassari e Nuoro 17: 202–221. Ozieri.
61.
PERNICKA, E., 1995. Crisis or catharsis in lead isotope analysis?Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology8:59–64.
62.
PERNICKA, E., F. BEGEMANN, S. SCHMITT-STRECKER, H. TODOROVA and I. KULEFF, 1997. Prehistoric copper in Bulgaria. Eurasia Antiqua3:41–180.
63.
PIGORINI, L., 1904. Pani di rame provenienti dall'Egeo e scoperti a Serra Ilixi in provincia di Cagliari. Bullettino di Paletnologia Italiana30:91–107.
64.
RIEDERER, J., 1980. Metallanalysen sardischer Bronzen. In J. Thimme (ed.), Kunst und Kultur Sardiniens vom Neolithikum bis zum Ende der Nuraghenzeit: 156–160. Karlsruhe: C.F. Mu ª ller.
65.
SAYRE, E.V., K.A. YENER and E.C. JOEL, 1995. Comments on the paper `Oxhide ingots, recycling, and the Mediterranean metals trade'. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology8:45–53.
66.
SOMMERFELD, CH., 1993. Gera ª tegeld Sichel. Berlin: De Gruyter.
67.
STOS-GALE, Z.A. and N.H. GALE, 1994. The origin of metals excavated on Cyprus. In A.B. Knapp and J.F. Cherry (eds), Provenience Studies and Bronze Age Cyprus: Production, Exchange, and Politico-Economic Change. Monographs in World Archaeology 21: 92–121. Madison, WI: Prehistory Press.
68.
STOS-GALE, Z.A., G. MALIOTIS, N.H. GALE and N. ANNETTS, 1997. Lead isotope characteristics of the Cyprus copper ore deposits applied to provenance studies of copper oxhide ingots. Archaeometry39:83–123.
69.
TARAMELLI, A., 1921. II ripostiglio di bronzi nuragici di Monte Sa Idda (Decimoputzu, Cagliari). Monumenti antichi dei Lincei27:5–106.
70.
TYKOT, R.H., 1992. The sources and distribution of Sardinian obsidian. In R.H. Tykot and T.K. Andrews (eds), Sardinia in the Mediterranean: A Footprint in the Sea: 57–70. (Studies in Sardinian Archaeology presented to Miriam S. Balmuth.) Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press.
71.
TYKOT, R.H., 1996. Obsidian procurement and distribution in the central and western Mediterranean. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology9(1):39–82.
72.
TYKOT, R.H., 1997. Characterization of the Monte Arci (Sardinia) obsidian sources. Journal of Archaeological Science24:467–479.
73.
TYKOT, R.H. and A.J. AMMERMAN, 1997. New directions in central Mediterranean obsidian studies. Antiquity71:1000–1006.
74.
TYLECOTE, R.F., 1977. Early tin ingots and tinstone from Western Europe and the Mediterranean. In A.D. Franklin, J.S. Olin and T.A. Wertime (eds), The Search for Ancient Tin: 49–52. Smithsonian Institution – National Bureau of Standards.
75.
TYLECOTE, R.F., M.S. BALMUTH and R. MASSOLI-NOVELLI, 1983. Copper and bronze metallurgy in Sardinia. Journal Historical Metallurgy Society17:63–77.
76.
UGAS, G. and L. USAI, 1987. Nuovi scavi nel santuario nuragico di S. Anastasia di Sardara. In E. Peltenburgh (ed.), La Sardegna nel Mediterraneo tra il II e il I millennio a.C. Atti del II Convegno di Studi, Selargius-Cagliari 27–30 Nov. 1986. Cagliari 1987: 167–218.
77.
VAGNETTI L. and F. LO SCHIAVO, 1989. Late Bronze Age long distance trade: The role of the Cypriots. In Early Society in Cyprus: 217–243. Edinburgh.
78.
VODRET, F.L., 1935. Ricerche chimiche sui bronzi preistorici della Sardegna. Atti V. Congresso Naz. Chimica, Roma1935: 105–120.
79.
VODRET, F., 1959. Sui bronzi preistorici dell' epoca nuragica. Rend. del Seminario della Facolta ° di Scienze dell' Universita ° di Cagliari 29(3–4) 1959: 248–272.
80.
ZWICKER, U., P. VIRDIS and M.L. CERUTI, 1980. Investigations on copper ore, prehistoric copper slag and copper ingots from Sardinia. In P.T. Craddock (ed.), Scientific Studies in Early Mining and Extractive Metallurgy: 135–163. London: British Museum Occasional Paper 20.
