Prehistoric metallurgy in the western Mediterranean. New archaeological and archaeometric data from Sardinia

In the specialised literature regarding the ancient metallurgy of the western Mediterranean, archaeological and archaeometric research of the earlier phases of Sardinian metallurgy is not very common, partly due to the relative scarcity of available data. The main objective of this work is to examine the most ancient aspects, from the Final Neolithic to the Final Eneolithic. This research integrates published data and new archaeological and archaeometric contributions, collected from two of the most important Prenuragic contexts: Su Coddu/Canelles and Monte d’Accoddi. The artefacts relative to the former of the two are datable to the Early Eneolithic and were recovered during excavations directed by the author between 2001 and 2007. The artefacts of Monte d’Accoddi were discovered during excavations undertaken by Ercole Contu (1952-1959); these belong to a longer chronological arc and are related to diverse phases of the site. The second objective is to examine the metallurgic production of prehistoric Sardinia in the framework of the Western Mediterranean. This research is taken on through two approaches: the reorganisation and analyses of published material, based on the revision of outdated chronologies in the light of recent radiometric datings, and through drawing comparisons with production from extra-insular areas, with particular attention given to peninsular Italy.