The metallurgy of copper in Italian Prehistory. New archaeometric data from Sardinia

When looking at the earliest metallurgy in Italy, data from Sardinia indicates a beginning during the first half of the 4th millennium cal. BC, which was followed by very gradual development that intensified during the 3rd millennium. Here we present results of XRF analysis, combined with Monte Carlo simulations, undertaken on copper artefacts recovered from the renowned sanctuary of Monte d’Accoddi (northern Sardinia), chiefly belonging to a period between the 4th and the early 2nd millennium cal. BC. Some finds were of particular interest in that they contained a high or anomalous concentration of silver