The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age
This study examines the role of the Nuragic metal trade in the Mediterranean setting, seeking to advance the debate on this subject. Published metal-related data are considered alongside current interpretations. Although Sardinia is geologically rich in metals, including copper and lead (silver), sc...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Open Archaeology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2022-0280 |
| _version_ | 1827969002409820160 |
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| author | Matta Valentina Vandkilde Helle |
| author_facet | Matta Valentina Vandkilde Helle |
| author_sort | Matta Valentina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the role of the Nuragic metal trade in the Mediterranean setting, seeking to advance the debate on this subject. Published metal-related data are considered alongside current interpretations. Although Sardinia is geologically rich in metals, including copper and lead (silver), scholars have nonetheless disagreed about the role of these metals in shaping the political economy of Nuragic Sardinia and its interaction with the outside world (c. 1350–720 BC). Traditionally the island has been seen as passively relying on the agency of foreign merchants from the eastern Mediterranean region. Lately, however, a divergent view has credited Sardinia with a more active and autonomous role in the Mediterranean marketplace. This study provides an analytical review of the complexity of such opinions, alongside isotope-derived and other archaeometallurgical evidence. As a scaffold for future inquiries, key features based on theoretical and historical perspectives are pulled together to form an exploratory model of Sardinia’s changing geopolitical position in the interlinked world of the Mediterranean between the Bronze and Iron Ages. The time around 1200 BC is identified as a major historical threshold. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:31:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce3730e6acdc46db8b75de9b4a212331 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2300-6560 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:31:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Archaeology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce3730e6acdc46db8b75de9b4a2123312023-04-11T17:07:19ZengDe GruyterOpen Archaeology2300-65602023-02-0191pp. 46550810.1515/opar-2022-0280The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron AgeMatta Valentina0Vandkilde Helle1Graduate School of Arts, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkSchool of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkThis study examines the role of the Nuragic metal trade in the Mediterranean setting, seeking to advance the debate on this subject. Published metal-related data are considered alongside current interpretations. Although Sardinia is geologically rich in metals, including copper and lead (silver), scholars have nonetheless disagreed about the role of these metals in shaping the political economy of Nuragic Sardinia and its interaction with the outside world (c. 1350–720 BC). Traditionally the island has been seen as passively relying on the agency of foreign merchants from the eastern Mediterranean region. Lately, however, a divergent view has credited Sardinia with a more active and autonomous role in the Mediterranean marketplace. This study provides an analytical review of the complexity of such opinions, alongside isotope-derived and other archaeometallurgical evidence. As a scaffold for future inquiries, key features based on theoretical and historical perspectives are pulled together to form an exploratory model of Sardinia’s changing geopolitical position in the interlinked world of the Mediterranean between the Bronze and Iron Ages. The time around 1200 BC is identified as a major historical threshold.https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2022-0280nuragic sardiniabronze ageiron agepolitical economylead isotope analysismetal trade networks |
| spellingShingle | Matta Valentina Vandkilde Helle The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Open Archaeology nuragic sardinia bronze age iron age political economy lead isotope analysis metal trade networks |
| title | The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age |
| title_full | The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age |
| title_fullStr | The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age |
| title_full_unstemmed | The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age |
| title_short | The State of the Debate: Nuragic Metal Trade in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age |
| title_sort | state of the debate nuragic metal trade in the bronze age and early iron age |
| topic | nuragic sardinia bronze age iron age political economy lead isotope analysis metal trade networks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2022-0280 |
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