A strange lead isotopic signature: the Funtana Coberta-Ballao hoard (Sardinia)

An intense debate about the provenance of ox-hide copper ingots found in Sardinian was developed since the first paper published in 1987 by Gale y Stos-Gale, 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 the 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 no-Cypriot copper. The Funtana Coberta hoard was located in a layer dated at the end of 13rd-beginning of 12th century BC and contains more than 20 kg of metal, mainly copper (Manunza 2008).