Tracking Alpine copper—analysis of Late Bronze Age copper ingot hoard from South Bohemia

Abstract

We present the results of a complex archaeometric study of Late Bronze Age copper ingots from the Stare Hodějovice hoard (South Bohemia). In order to understand the origin of the copper and describe the metallurgical process, we use modern analytical methods (metallography analyses, major/trace element and lead isotope analyses) to describe the samples. Within this study, a representative dataset of trace element composition and lead isotope ratios of non-alloyed and non-recycled corpus of copper ingots from the Late Bronze Age was created. We assume that most of the ingots were not altered by alloying, mixing or recycling. Based on lead isotope ratios and major/trace element composition, we suppose that the origin of the copper could be mostly Alpine ores from the Trentino and Mitterberg regions and possibly the Valais region. By this study, it was proved that copper smelted by a matte smelting process was transported in the form of flat or plano-convex ingots from multiple sources to South Bohemia, where it was subsequently refined and alloyed. Obtained analytical results refute the idea of prevailing copper recycling in the Late Bronze Age.