ARCHAEOMETRIC STUDIES ON ITALIAN METAL ARTIFACTS FROM FINAL COPPER AGE TO EARLY IRON AGE

Despite being of considerable interest, a systematic research program capable of defining the circulation routes of metals (Cu and Pb) by applying chemical and Pb isotopic analyses has never been conducted in Southern Italy. This research considered several contexts in Campania (Acerra) and Sicily (Cannatello, Milena, Ribera, and Sant'Angelo Muxaro), dating from the BA to the BF (2300-925 BC). This was then extended to contexts in Northern Italy located in Veneto, dating from the RF to the BA (late III millennium BC-Colombare di Negrar, Nogarole Rocca) and from the BF to the PF (XII-IX century BC - Villamarzana, Gazzo Veronese); in Emilia-Romagna (San Polo d'Enza) and Piedmont (Brignano Frascata, Castello d'Annone, Montecastello, Pontecurone, and Villa del Foro), both dating to the GIIA-IIB period (VI-V century BC). The aim of this extension of the study is to investigate and compare, across different chronological periods, the metallurgical production of geographical areas that, while distant yet connected, were exploited in the mining districts, and the circulation of the metal through analysis of its provenance. To this end, micro-samples were subjected to chemical analyses (SEM-EDS, EPMA) to determine the composition and ore charge used, and to isotopic analyses (LIA) to identify the metal's origin, comparing the results with existing databases. Most of the artifacts are made of Cu, bronze, bronze with added Pb (EF), and fahlerz (BF and EF). Some objects from Cannatello were made of Pb. In Northern Italy, most of the Cu comes from the S-E Alps throughout the period examined, while only in the N-W (EF) it also come from Tuscany and Slovakia. The S-W Iberian Peninsula, Bulgaria, and Aegean are, instead, the sources of Pb for those NW Italian bronze artifacts made with intentional additions of this metal. For Southern Italy, indeed, the main sources of Cu are Tuscany and Balkans for Campania (BA), while for Sicily (BM-BF) they are Cyprus, Sardinia, and Aegean. Pb also comes from these last 2 areas.