Alžběta Danielisová, Ladislav Strnad, Martin Mihaljevič

Circulation Patterns of Copper-Based Alloys in the Late Iron Age Oppidum of Třísov in Central Europe

Introduction

Circulation patterns of copper-based alloys in the late iron age oppidum of třísov in central europe. Investigate Late Iron Age copper alloy circulation at Třísov, Central Europe. Archaeometric analysis suggests distant material supply was common for oppida, not just local sourcing.

Abstract

This article presents an insight into the sourcing and circulation of copper alloys during the Late La Tène period in Central Europe  where the specialised production of metals is regarded as complex and conducted chiefly within the bounds of the oppida. Contrary to the logical, though not necessarily data-based, assumption that local raw materials for the production of bronze were mostly used from the local primary deposits, we argue that an advanced and complex economy of Late Iron Age allowed for the steady and consistent material supply even from distant areas and that such pattern was possibly commonly practised by the oppida sites.  Concurrently, we do not argue against the possibility of the exploitation and processing of the locally mined metal, we only point out that in provenance studies the evidence for that is yet difficult to find. We back our hypothesis by archaeometric analysis of the  assemblage of bronze objects from the oppidum of Třísov (Czech Republic) collected during the long-term investigations of this site. The selection of objects for analyses covers the spectrum from the local products to potentially imported items. A provenancestudy based on the analysis of lead isotopes and chemical composition has shown rather homogeneous pattern of lead isotopic values and, on the contrary, quite a variability among the chemical composition of the individual artefact groups suggesting thus 1)  standardised technological procedures for individual types of objects, 2) common recycling of the materials used and/or 3)  contamination of low-leaded alloys from highly leaded bronzes.

Review

This article presents a compelling and timely investigation into the sourcing and circulation of copper-based alloys within the complex economic landscape of Late La Tène oppida in Central Europe. Directly challenging the prevalent, yet often unsubstantiated, assumption that local raw materials were predominantly utilized for bronze production, the authors posit that the sophisticated Late Iron Age economy facilitated a consistent supply of materials from distant sources, a pattern they suggest might have been widespread. This hypothesis offers a significant re-evaluation of the scale and reach of ancient economic networks, moving beyond geographically constrained models to embrace a more interconnected and dynamic view of material procurement. The strength of this study lies in its robust empirical approach, leveraging archaeometric analysis of an assemblage of bronze objects from the oppidum of Třísov. The chosen methodology, combining lead isotope analysis with chemical composition, is well-suited for provenance studies and provides a solid foundation for their arguments. The authors' careful selection of objects, spanning from local products to potentially imported items, ensures a comprehensive dataset. The findings, characterized by a homogeneous pattern of lead isotopic values contrasted with considerable variability in chemical composition among artefact groups, are particularly intriguing. The authors provide three well-reasoned interpretations for these complex results – standardized technological procedures, common recycling, and/or contamination from highly leaded bronzes – demonstrating a nuanced engagement with the analytical data. Overall, this article makes a substantial contribution to the understanding of Late Iron Age metallurgy and economy. By providing concrete archaeometric evidence, it effectively challenges established paradigms and underscores the sophistication of ancient supply chains. While the abstract points to the current difficulty in finding definitive evidence for local metal exploitation in provenance studies, the detailed discussion of the three possible interpretations for chemical variability will be crucial in the full paper to fully unpack the interplay of these factors. This research offers valuable insights into the mechanisms of material flow and consumption within a key Central European oppidum and is highly recommended for publication.

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