New data on the Late Bronze Age / Early Iron Age metallurgy in Central Portugal. The contribution of Vila do Touro (Sabugal, Guarda)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the study of a group of metal artefacts recently recovered during the archaeological excavations in Vila do Touro (Central Portugal), i.e., 19 artefacts and a small metallic inclusion embedded in a pottery sherd. The objects have been analysed by an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer to characterise the elemental composition of metal artefacts. A Scanning Electron Microscope with X-ray Microanalysis System and an optical microscope were used to observe and chemically characterise the metal inclusion in the pottery. The fragment of an ingot was also analysed by a multicollector Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to address issues bound to the provenance of raw material. The results revealed different compositional patterns (pure copper, binary bronze, i.e., Cu+Sn, leaded bronzes, i.e., Cu+Sn+Pb, and gold), while pointing out the Ossa Morena region (Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula) as likely source of copper used to produce the ingot.