New insights into central Mediterranean copper trade during the Late Bronze Age

An intense debate about the provenance of ox-hide copper ingots found in Sardinian was developed since the first paper published by Gale y Stos-Gale 1987, that suggested Cyprus as source. Since then, only two options have been considered for metal provenance in nuragic Sardinia: local ores or imported metal from Cyprus. The study of Funtana Coberta hoard (Ballao) including different types of copper raw material (ox-hide ingots, plano-convex ingots, votive sword fragments, sheet or scrap metal) opens a new perspective to consider other provenance areas and even the manufacture of some ox-hide ingots, as well as the votive weapons, with Sardinian copper. This hoard is dated at the end of 13rd-beginning of 12th century BC and contains more than 20 kg of metal (Manunza 2008). Elemental analysis of near 200 items was performed by a pXRF. After this first approach, a set of selected samples (33) based on groups of composition were analyzed by ICP-MS in order to get a more precise information, specially Rare Earth element (REE), Thorium, and Uranium contents. Finally for provenance information lead isotope analysis (LIA) of this set of selected samples was performed by MC-ICP-MS.