A metalwork station and a metal artifacts were found in 2012 during the excavation of a south western Sardinia cave, in Italy. Numerous charcoals, smelting slags and a dagger, coming from a probable bowl furnace, were found. These remains are typologically related to the middle bronze age manufacturing, as confirmed by 14C date. To reconstruct the ancient metallurgical technology, an archaeometric study was performed by chemical (pXRF, ICP-OES) and mineralogical (PXRD, microscopy) techniques. The results showed that all finds are made primarily of Cu, Fe and Pb with Ca, Zn, As and Mg traces while S is present only in the slags. The main part of these analytes is due to the mineral charge. Microscopic analyses show gangue fragments and minerals comparable to the ones noticed in the mixed sulphides ores close to the cave. PXRD patterns and polarizing microscopy indicate metallurgical temperatures ranging from 600-700°C to 1100°C.

Middle Bronze Age metalworking in the cave of Monte Meana (South-western Sardinia, Italy)

SERRA, MARCO
Primo
Investigation
;
CANNAS, CARLA
Secondo
Supervision
;
NAITZA, STEFANO
Penultimo
Investigation
;
PAGLIETTI, GIACOMO
Membro del Collaboration Group
2016-01-01

Abstract

A metalwork station and a metal artifacts were found in 2012 during the excavation of a south western Sardinia cave, in Italy. Numerous charcoals, smelting slags and a dagger, coming from a probable bowl furnace, were found. These remains are typologically related to the middle bronze age manufacturing, as confirmed by 14C date. To reconstruct the ancient metallurgical technology, an archaeometric study was performed by chemical (pXRF, ICP-OES) and mineralogical (PXRD, microscopy) techniques. The results showed that all finds are made primarily of Cu, Fe and Pb with Ca, Zn, As and Mg traces while S is present only in the slags. The main part of these analytes is due to the mineral charge. Microscopic analyses show gangue fragments and minerals comparable to the ones noticed in the mixed sulphides ores close to the cave. PXRD patterns and polarizing microscopy indicate metallurgical temperatures ranging from 600-700°C to 1100°C.
2016
978-1-78491-423-3
Une station de métallerie et un objets en métal ont été trouvés en 2012 lors de la fouille d’une grotte en Sardaigne sud ouest, en Italie. De nombreux fusains, de la fusion et des scories d’un poignard, provenant d’un bol four probable, ont été trouvés. Ces restes sont typologiquement liés à la fabrication de l’âge de bronze du milieu, tel que confirmé par 14C jour. Pour reconstruire l’ancienne technologie métallurgique, une étude a été réalisée par archéométrique (PXRD, microscopie) techniques chimiques (pXRF, ICP-OES) et minéralogie. Les résultats ont montré que toutes les découvertes sont faites principalement de Cu, Fe et Pb Ca, Zn, As et Mg traces alors que S est présent uniquement dans les mâchefers. La partie principale de ces analytes est due à la charge minérale. Microscopique analyse des fragments et des minéraux de gangue montrent comparables à ceux constatés dans les sulfures mixtes minerais à proximité de la grotte. des motifs PXRD et la microscopie de polarisation indiquent des températures allant de la métallurgie 600-700°C à 1100°C.
Archaeo-metallurgy; Copper smelting; Middle Bronze Age; Sardinia
Sardaigne; Moyen Age du Bronze; Archéométrie; Artefacts de cuivre; Propriétés technologiques
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11584/178329
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