Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age metallurgical practices at Limenaria, Thasos: evidence for silver and copper production

摘要: Excavations at Limenaria in southwestern Thasos brought to light a significant amount of finds associated with metallurgical activities the Final Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. The recovered evidence includes copper alloy artifacts, one silver pin, slags, crucible fragment, pieces shallow bowl lead silicates litharge-resembling cupels, numerous fragments hematite/limonite lumps, some containing secondary cupriferous minerals, mainly malachite azurite. With exception complete representative sample (approx. 40) was studied by applying instrumental analytical methods. results strongly suggest that metalworkers utilized exclusively local mineral resources for production. They demonstrated skill succeeded extracting metallic from locally available polymetallic (and poor ores) resources, expanded their practice working (for alloying arsenic). technological traits so far recognized appear be closer Aegean pyro-metallurgical practices rather than northern counterparts Balkans.