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Lead and Silver Production in the Montevecchio Basin (Western Sardinia, Italy)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

G.M. Ingo ,
T. Agus ,
R. Ruggeri ,
A. Amore Bonapasta ,
G. Bultrini  and
G. Chiozzini
G.M. Ingo
Affiliation:
C.N.R. - ICMAT, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
T. Agus
Affiliation:
Comune di Guspini, 09030 Guspini, Cagliari (Italy)
R. Ruggeri
Affiliation:
Gruppo Archeologico Neapolitano, 09030 Guspini, Cagliari (Italy)
A. Amore Bonapasta
Affiliation:
C.N.R. - ICMAT, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
G. Bultrini
Affiliation:
CNR. - ICFP, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
G. Chiozzini
Affiliation:
C.N.R. - ICMAT, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione (Italy)
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Abstract

Lead slags and lead pieces, chronologically related to the Punic and Roman periods (IV BC - II AC), have been found at Bocche di Sciria, in the basin of the Montevecchio mine (south-western Sardinia, Italy). Furthermore, along the coast of this area over than 20 Punic and Roman shipwrecks with charges of lead ingots have been found. These materials indicate intense pyrometallurgical activities and the presence of metal production centres very close to the metal ore deposits. The microchemical studies of the slags have shown that they can be associated to a smelting process for lead and silver production. Furthermore, lead isotope analysis has been carried out for lead ores from Montevecchio and for the lead slags, litharge, lead pieces found there. The results for lead ores are in good agreement with literature and the scatter of data for slags, litharge and lead pieces suggest to rule out a lead isotope fractionation in ancient lead and silver production.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 462: Symposium DD – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology V , 1996 , 411
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

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References

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