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The Geochemistry of Unalloyed Copper Metallurgical Group Indicates Copper Ore Sources in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages of the Urals
D. A. Artemyev,
M. N. Ankushev,
I. S. Stepanov,
N. B. Vinogradov,
I. P. Alaeva,
P. S. Ankusheva,
L N. Koryakova,
A. M. Naumov https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2024.52.2.074-083
Abstract
Trace elements in copper artifacts from Late Bronze and Early Iron Age sites in the Urals, formerly attributed to the metallurgical group of “chemically pure” copper, were analyzed using the method of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The metal of which artifacts included in this group are made reveals geochemical markers suggesting that “pure” copper actually falls into several subgroups. The PCA analysis of the results identifies 11 clusters corresponding to various sources of copper ores and their mixtures. At least seven principal associations can be linked to copper deposits of different geological types and origin: Au-Te-Bi, Au-Se-Te-Sb, Fe-Co-Ni-As-Sb, Fe-Co-Ni -Zn, Se-Co-Fe, Ag-Pb-Ni, and Sb-Pb-Zn-As. Also, several mixed associations reflect the fusion of copper items and metal scrap initially obtained from different sources: Sn-Pb, Fe-Co-Ni-Zn + Sn, Fe-Co-Ni + Au-Te-Bi-Ag, Fe-Co-Ni + Au-Te-Bi + Sn. A separate association, for which the ore source remains unknown, consists of artifacts characterized by a low content of trace elements, jointly making up less than 0.01 wt%. The largest sample in the Late Bronze Age “pure copper” group falls within the Sn-Pb cluster representing a mixture of local copper and imported Sn-containing copper scrap. Judging by trace elements, the main sources of ore in the “pure copper” group of the Itkul and Sarmatian cultures were the Gumeshki mine and another unidentified source. Both could have been used already in the Final Bronze Age.
Keywords
Copper geochemistry,
trace elements,
deposits,
metallurgical group,
Urals,
Late Bronze Age,
Early Iron Age
Supporting agencies: This study of copper artifacts of the Bronze Age from the Southern Urals was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project No. 20-59-56007). The study of the metallurgy of the Itkul culture and metal of the nomadic communities of the Southern and Middle Trans- Urals was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 21-18-00576).
About the Authors
D. A. Artemyev
South Ural Federal Scientific Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Researcher
Ilmensky Reserve, Miass, 456317
M. N. Ankushev
South Ural Federal Scientific Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Junior Researcher
Ilmensky Reserve, Miass, 456317
I. S. Stepanov
South Ural Federal Scientific Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Researcher
Ilmensky Reserve, Miass, 456317
N. B. Vinogradov
South Ural State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Professor
pr. Lenina 69, Chelyabinsk, 454080
I. P. Alaeva
South Ural State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Senior Researcher
pr. Lenina 69, Chelyabinsk, 454080
P. S. Ankusheva
South Ural Federal Scientific Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences;
South Ural State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Junior Researcher, South Ural Federal Scientific Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Senior Researcher, South Ural State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University
Ilmensky Reserve, Miass, 456317;
pr. Lenina 69, Chelyabinsk, 454080
L N. Koryakova
Institute of History and Archaeology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chief Researcher
Kovalevskoi 16, Yekaterinburg, 620108
A. M. Naumov
MPI Ozersk City District “City Museum”
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Director
pr. Pobedy 2, Ozersk, 456780
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Review
For citations:
Artemyev D.A., Ankushev M.N., Stepanov I.S., Vinogradov N.B., Alaeva I.P., Ankusheva P.S., Koryakova L.N., Naumov A.M. The Geochemistry of Unalloyed Copper Metallurgical Group Indicates Copper Ore Sources in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages of the Urals. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. 2024;52(2):74-83. https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2024.52.2.074-083
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