Os metais das necrópoles de Cistas de Casas Velhas (Melides) e da Provença (Sines). O encontro de antigas e novas tecnologias no Bronze Pleno do Sudoeste

Abstract

The characterisation of Middle Bronze Age metals of cists at Casa Velhas and Provença is presented. Copper-based artefacts are made of arsenical copper (2.03-5.64% As), excluding a bronze “fishhook” highlighting a metallurgical innovation in the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula, similarly to the silver used in ornaments, namely a ring (99.7% Ag) and a bracelet (94.5% Ag; 5.41% Cu). There is also a gold bead (12.6% Ag; <0.04% Cu) probably from alluvial nuggets, as the majority of prehistoric gold. Finally, the results are compared with the known metallurgy from the 2nd millennium BC in southern Portugal.