The first metallurgy in the Pityusic Islands (Balearic archipelago, Mediterranean Sea)

The islands of Ibiza and Formentera (the Pityusic Islands in the Balearic archipelago, Spain) were one of the last insular contexts to be colonised in the Mediterranean. The first settlement occurred during the second millennium cal BCE, probably by continental Bronze Age communities. During the fir...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor: Sureda, Pau
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2019
País:España
Recursos:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositório:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/208854
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/208854
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Bronze Age
Pityusic Islands
Metal trade
Isolation
Island colonisation
Archaeometallurgy
Lead isotope analysis
XRF-ED
Descrição
Resumo:The islands of Ibiza and Formentera (the Pityusic Islands in the Balearic archipelago, Spain) were one of the last insular contexts to be colonised in the Mediterranean. The first settlement occurred during the second millennium cal BCE, probably by continental Bronze Age communities. During the first centuries of occupation (ca. 2100-1400 cal BCE), local material culture is defined in terms of the Bell-Beaker/Dolmenic and First Naviform periods. The Pityusic Islands have no mineral resources for producing copper or bronze objects locally, so the presence of metal objects dated to these periods necessarily indicates exogenous contact. Seven metal objects have been found in five archaeological sites located in both islands. Archaeometallurgical research conducted on these objects reveals the economic behaviour of these first settlers in acquiring these resources. In this respect, aspects of this behaviour, such as technological patterns and trade dynamics, are analysed.