Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – In a new study, researchers investigated as many as 48 Nuragic figurines (so-called bronzetti) and three copper bun ingots. These objects originate from three prominent Sardinian sanctuaries and one unidentified site, dating to the late Nuragic period of the early first millennium BCE.
Nuragic warrior from Padria. Image credit:
Each of these places is known for producing bronzetti, usually depicting warriors, gods, and animals, Interesting is that the metal used at these sites was remarkably similar. This finding suggests a standardized approach to the production of these objects across the island, which means that the ancient communities shared technique or source of materials.
The Nuraghe culture thrived in Sardinia during the Bronze Age. It is characterized by its distinctive tower-like stone structures known as nuraghes.
The culture’s bronzetti figurines have long captivated scientists, but the precise origin of their metal composition still remains unidentified.
The warior bronzetti from Abini, central Sardinia. Most bronzetti are shown with a weapon set consisting of differnet combinations. This bronzetti is part of the archer group and features a sword, bow, arrows, and elements of body armour, including the typical horned helmet. These horned helmets are worn by warrior statuettes. Image credit: Heide W. Nørgaard with permission of the Museo Archaeologica Nazionale di Caglairi.
To determine the origin of the copper in these figures, the research team employed used a multi-proxy approach, a method involves a combination of various chemical analyses. This technique enabled them to compare isotopes of copper, tin, lead, and a less common isotope, osmium, to gain a clearer understanding of the metals’ sources. This method has successfully addressed a longstanding mystery that has long challenged researchers.
According to Daniel Berger, the first author from the Curt-Engelhorn Center for Archaeometry who developed this new method, the findings indicate that bronzetti were mainly crafted using copper sourced from Sardinia. Occasionally, this was combined with copper from the Iberian Peninsula, which includes present-day Spain and Portugal. The study further revealed that copper from the Levant—regions such as Timna in Israel and Faynan in Jordan—was not utilized in Sardinia.
This conclusion was reached through an analysis of osmium isotopes.
“Archaeological methods establish a strong foundation that the latest scientific methods can refine and explain. This will bring the old discussions to a close. In our case, the most recent geochemical knowledge indicates the origin of the metal in specific geographical areas and certain mines. It is also possible in several cases to trace a strategic mix of copper with different origins. Presumably to achieve certain effects such as the product’s colour and strength,” says Professor Helle Vandkilde from Aarhus University.
A bronzetti picturing another kind of warrior found in the sanctuary of Santa Vittoria di Serri in central Sardinia. This warrior type is only shown with a dagger and has a long, wide cloak. The hands of this bronzetti are broken; however, based on similar bronzetti, it might have shown the open hand gesture. Image credit: Heide W. Nørgaard with permission of the Museo Archaeologica Nazionale di Caglairi.
It is interesting that despite Sardinia’s local sources of tin and lead, these resources were not employed in the production of the figurines. The tin required for bronze manufacturing was likely imported, presumably from the Iberian Peninsula. This conclusion is supported by the isotope signatures found in bronzetti and the chemical composition patterns observed in Sardinian tin objects.
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Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer