Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)

Copper-tin bronzes can be obtained through different techniques (i.e. natural alloying, co-smelting, cementation, co-melting and recycling). This paper presents a methodology and theoretical framework to contextually explain the logic behind the selection of bronze alloying techniques in different c...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Montes-Landa, Julia, Pons, Enriqueta, Rovira Hortalà, M. Carme, Moya, Andreu, Alonso, Natàlia, Martinon-Torres, Marcos
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
Repositorio:Repositori Obert UdL
OAI Identifier:oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/467936
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106206
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/467936
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Co-smelting
Cementation
Co-melting
Recycling
Technological choices
Bronze slag
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spelling Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)Montes-Landa, JuliaPons, EnriquetaRovira Hortalà, M. CarmeMoya, AndreuAlonso, NatàliaMartinon-Torres, MarcosCo-smeltingCementationCo-meltingRecyclingTechnological choicesBronze slagCopper-tin bronzes can be obtained through different techniques (i.e. natural alloying, co-smelting, cementation, co-melting and recycling). This paper presents a methodology and theoretical framework to contextually explain the logic behind the selection of bronze alloying techniques in different contexts, avoiding deterministic, aprioristic and linear narratives. To do so, we selected Northeast Iberia as a case study and present comparative results of slag and slagged technical ceramics from four sites (Minferri, Vilars, Mas Castellar and Ullastret) dated between 2100-200BC. Materials were analysed using pXRF, OM, SEM-EDS, and ICP-MS to characterise technological choices through time. Patterns of choice are considered in relation to the technical affordances of each alloying technique and contextualised within the relevant environmental and socioeconomic parameters. The results show that bronze-making technique choices were primarily dependent on (1) the (in)stability of raw material procurement networks, and (2) the existent selective pressures on performance characteristics for which each technique offered different trade-offs. Discrete combinations of these two variables can explain instances of different techniques co-existing (e.g. Minferri, Mas Castellar, and Ullastret) and cases of commitment to a single one (e.g. Vilars). This is the first diachronic study of bronze alloying practices investigated through direct analyses of bronze-making residues for a given area. The analytical framework employed and the derived behavioural rules can be applied to other case studies to collectively build a multi-path history of bronze alloying development. This will be fundamental to understand the link between bronze alloying technique selection and social change, to better contextualise metal finds within their production and exchange networks, and to requestion existing models of bronze production organisation and technological diffusion across the world.JML would like to thank the Cambridge Trust and the Arts and Humanities Research Council-Departmental Training partnership (2113448) for jointly funding her PhD, on which this paper is based. She is also grateful to Trinity College (University of Cambridge) for funding the costs associated to travelling to Pontós to collect data. Further funds to support other research trips to collect samples were obtained from the University Fieldwork Fund. The authors are also very grateful to the Historical Metallurgy Society for funding part of the isotopic analyses here presented. MMT's contribution to the write-up of this research was supported by funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 101021480, Project REVERSEACTION). The laboratory analyses at the University of Cambridge were made possible by a grant from UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Capability for Collections (CapCo) Fund for the Cambridge Heritage Science Hub (CHERISH) Initiative (AH/V011685/1).Elsevier2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106206https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/467936reponame:Repositori Obert UdL instname:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)InglésReproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106206Journal of Archaeological Science, 2025, vol. 178, núm. 106206, p. 1-21info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101021480cc-by (c) The Authors, 2025Attribution 4.0 Internationalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/4679362026-06-24T12:42:17Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
title Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
spellingShingle Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
Montes-Landa, Julia
Co-smelting
Cementation
Co-melting
Recycling
Technological choices
Bronze slag
title_short Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
title_full Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
title_fullStr Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
title_full_unstemmed Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
title_sort Towards a new history of bronze making: Explaining the selection of tin bronze alloying techniques across prehistoric N.E. Iberia (2100-200BC)
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Montes-Landa, Julia
Pons, Enriqueta
Rovira Hortalà, M. Carme
Moya, Andreu
Alonso, Natàlia
Martinon-Torres, Marcos
author Montes-Landa, Julia
author_facet Montes-Landa, Julia
Pons, Enriqueta
Rovira Hortalà, M. Carme
Moya, Andreu
Alonso, Natàlia
Martinon-Torres, Marcos
author_role author
author2 Pons, Enriqueta
Rovira Hortalà, M. Carme
Moya, Andreu
Alonso, Natàlia
Martinon-Torres, Marcos
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Co-smelting
Cementation
Co-melting
Recycling
Technological choices
Bronze slag
topic Co-smelting
Cementation
Co-melting
Recycling
Technological choices
Bronze slag
description Copper-tin bronzes can be obtained through different techniques (i.e. natural alloying, co-smelting, cementation, co-melting and recycling). This paper presents a methodology and theoretical framework to contextually explain the logic behind the selection of bronze alloying techniques in different contexts, avoiding deterministic, aprioristic and linear narratives. To do so, we selected Northeast Iberia as a case study and present comparative results of slag and slagged technical ceramics from four sites (Minferri, Vilars, Mas Castellar and Ullastret) dated between 2100-200BC. Materials were analysed using pXRF, OM, SEM-EDS, and ICP-MS to characterise technological choices through time. Patterns of choice are considered in relation to the technical affordances of each alloying technique and contextualised within the relevant environmental and socioeconomic parameters. The results show that bronze-making technique choices were primarily dependent on (1) the (in)stability of raw material procurement networks, and (2) the existent selective pressures on performance characteristics for which each technique offered different trade-offs. Discrete combinations of these two variables can explain instances of different techniques co-existing (e.g. Minferri, Mas Castellar, and Ullastret) and cases of commitment to a single one (e.g. Vilars). This is the first diachronic study of bronze alloying practices investigated through direct analyses of bronze-making residues for a given area. The analytical framework employed and the derived behavioural rules can be applied to other case studies to collectively build a multi-path history of bronze alloying development. This will be fundamental to understand the link between bronze alloying technique selection and social change, to better contextualise metal finds within their production and exchange networks, and to requestion existing models of bronze production organisation and technological diffusion across the world.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106206
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/467936
url https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106206
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/467936
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106206
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2025, vol. 178, núm. 106206, p. 1-21
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101021480
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by (c) The Authors, 2025
Attribution 4.0 International
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by (c) The Authors, 2025
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Repositori Obert UdL
instname:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
instname_str Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
reponame_str Repositori Obert UdL
collection Repositori Obert UdL
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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