COPPER PRODUCTION IN EARLY BRONZE AGE THASSOS: NEW FINDS AND EXPERIMENTAL SIMULATION IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORANEOUS AEGEAN METALLURGICAL PRACTICES

摘要

Evidence for early copper production on Thassos dating to the Early Bronze Age derives from Limenaria and Aghios Antonios. Both sites are situated at the SW part of the island, where most of the Thassian Cu-ore outcrops also occur while the local treatment of such ores is corroborated by the analysed smelting slags and other relevant archaeometallurgical residues. A recent experimental simulation was carried out in order to approach questions regarding copper ore reduction in a northern Aegean context. For the duration of the smelt a temperature of 1220 °C in average was maintained for about 90 minutes during which period large pieces of furnace slag formed near the tuyere openings. Analysis of the experimental slag has shown significant mi-crostructural similarities with the archaeological slag, although the chemical and mineralogical composition of the major phases exhibits some noticeable differences. By attempting an assessment of the conditions prevalent during the experimental smelt we pursue an evaluation of the copper reduction performance on EBA Thassos. Furthermore, we initiate a technological comparison for investigating any recognizable links and differences in early copper production between Thassos and the southern Aegean islands.