Abstract
The CAST project aims at investigating the sustainability of metal, metalworking activities and circular economy of metal among the Late Copper Age and the Bronze Age communities of Northern Italy. The core research questions of the project concern the whole process of metal production and its impact on the environment and human health. The time period spanning between the end of the 3rd and the end of the 2nd millennium BC is characterised by an increasing demand for copper and copper alloy objects determining the establishment of capillary smelting and metal workshops, as well as long distance contacts and exchange routes. The economy of metal production in the Bronze Age is particularly significant since the modern concepts of circular economy, recycling and sustainability can be traced back to this period. In fact, copper and its alloys are the first completely recyclable material used in prehistory, allowing its constant reuse and readaptation. The rarity of natural copper sources and their long distance networks of supply also encouraged their constant reuse and re-adaptation. This important economic revolution also caused a considerable impact on the environment. In fact, several studies of European prehistoric contexts have observed a considerable rise in heavy metal pollution in the environment, also reflected by a growing exposure to metals among human individuals, due to an extraordinary increase in metalworking activities. The Po plain is a privileged area to investigate these topics since it is characterised by a substantial number of metal objects (ornaments, weapons and tools) produced and used in the Late Copper and Bronze Age and by several tangible traces of on-site productions, hinted by the presence of tools (crucibles, tuyères and moulds) and casting pits. By targeting archaeological key-sites, CAST aims at combining archaeometric analysis, 3D reconstructions and experimental archaeology to develop a comprehensive methodological approach to ancient metalworking activities addressing the whole chaîne opératoire. The actions have the objective to fill a gap in archaeometallugical studies, which have never comprehensively investigated these fundamental questions. In particular, the provenance analysis of metal objects will provide data about mechanisms of supply and potential recycling of raw materials; by analysing copper and bronze artefacts and metalworking tools, specific technologies and possible cross-craft interactions will be explored and supported by experimental activities. Traceology and experimental archaeology will help to shed light also on the use, reuse and durability of metal objects and metalworking tools. Geochemical analysis of soil sequences and human remains will clarify the impact of metals on the environment and human exposure to metal pollution. RESULTS: Activities carried out during the project • reviewing the project milestones and targets; • hiring the postdoctoral researchers; • organising meetings to discuss and coordinate the overall project activities; • creating a relational database for the catalogued finds, with linked tables including archaeological sites, metal artefacts, bibliographic references and images. The database was designed to store information on metal, ceramic and stone samples, as well as details of the archaeological contexts associated with each artefact; • cataloguing artefacts belonging to the categories defined by the project; • selecting the specific materials to be sampled for the analytical phase; • developing a technical sampling protocol and preparing formal requests to museums and institutions to obtain access to the selected objects; • collecting information on the geological settings of copper mineralisations in the Apennines and on the major mineral collections housed in the Bombicci Museum in Bologna; • analysing the archaeological context of the metallurgical production site at Solarolo, Via Ordiere – Canale Martini; • digitising and producing 3D documentation of the archaeological materials, with particular attention to stone moulds; • completing the organisation of all the data produced and initiating the preparation of scientific manuscripts. Main results The main results of the project can be summarised as follows. A major achievement of the project has been the generation of new insights into the sustainability of metalworking practices in Northern Italy during the Bronze Age. Documentation and digital archive The UNIBO team, after obtaining the necessary authorisations, identified and selected key Bronze Age archaeological sites (Solarolo, Rovere di Caorso, Monte della Croce and Mursia), chosen for their significance in understanding ancient metalworking practices. The team selected several metal artefacts from these sites, as well as from the collections of the museums of Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Bologna. 3D scanning, documentation and macroscopic/microscopic (traceological) analysis of the samples. Postdoctoral researcher Francesca Barchesi carried out detailed digital documentation of significant archaeological finds using 3D scanning technology to produce accurate digital models of the artefacts, ensuring the long-term preservation of their digital documentation for future research. Creation of the database and digital repository of the analysed materials. Postdoctoral researcher Florencia Debandi focused on the development of a comprehensive digital database to catalogue and manage the information collected from the archaeological sites. Graphic and photographic documentation was also acquired and incorporated into the database. The database was progressively populated with data collected from the selected sites. Researchers entered detailed records, including metadata for each sample, its provenance and the analytical results obtained during the project. Selection of finds Based on this database, the UNIBO team, together with UNIMORE, selected the metal and ceramic samples for archaeometric analyses, following strict protocols designed to minimise damage to the artefacts. A comprehensive database was developed to catalogue these materials and will serve as a valuable resource for future research and analytical investigations. The sampling procedure included the following steps: 1. graphic and photographic documentation of the artefacts (where necessary, including three-dimensional documentation); 2. recording the artefact data in the dedicated project database; 3. joint evaluation of the sampling methods best suited to both research objectives and conservation requirements; 4. sampling using specialised instruments according to the material and state of preservation of each artefact. Following these procedures, the samples were preserved and further documented at the UNIMORE laboratories. The collection comprised 58 Bronze Age metal samples, 20 experimental metal samples, 14 copper mineralisation samples from the Museo Bombicci in Bologna, 78 ceramic samples and 20 experimental ceramic samples. Regular interaction with museum staff fostered a collaborative approach to sample selection and collection, improving both the quality and quantity of the material available for the project. The analytical programme was carried out by the UNIMORE team using appropriate techniques for trace-element and isotope analyses, ensuring that the methodologies were fully aligned with the project objectives. The UNIBO team conducted preliminary assessments of the samples in order to identify those that would provide the most significant information on ancient metalworking practices. Archaeometric analyses were performed on approximately half of the collected samples (ca. 30 ceramic samples and 25 metal samples Experimental archaeology The UNIBO team produced experimental replicas of technical ceramics and bronze alloys on the basis of the results of the archaeometric analyses carried out by the UNIMORE team. The composition and manufacturing procedures adopted for the experimental materials were defined according to the analytical data obtained from the archaeological samples. Archaeometric analyses were performed on all the experimental samples collected, including three crucibles, two perforated plates and ten bronze alloys. Additional activities were carried out by members of the UNIBO team through specialised laboratory training at Newcastle University, focusing on the analysis and interpretation of manufacturing traces and use-wear evidence associated with metallurgical production. Statistical treatment and interpretation of analytical data The analytical datasets were subsequently subjected to statistical treatment and multivariate analyses in order to identify compositional trends, correlations among variables and possible compositional groups within the ceramic and metal assemblages. These procedures supported the interpretation of technological practices, raw material selection and potential provenance patterns, providing a robust quantitative basis for the comparative evaluation of archaeological and experimental materials. During this phase, the UNIMORE team carried out the systematic post-processing, organisation and interpretation of the analytical results, integrating them into the project database and developing comparative datasets to support technological and provenance studies. In particular, two reference databases were created: • a geochemical and isotopic database of copper mineralisations (approximately 14,000 records); • a database of archaeological metal objects (approximately 7000 records). These datasets constitute an important research resource and provided the basis for the preparation of scientific manuscripts and other research outputs currently in preparation for publication, as well as for the synthesis and presentation of the project results at the final conference.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Maurizio Cattani
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà
Coordinator:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Total Eu Contribution: Euro (EUR) 253.388,00
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 122.858,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
30/11/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
