Ancient tin production: Slags from the Iron Age Carvalhelhos hillfort (NW Iberian Peninsula)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Figueiredo, E (Author) Other; Fonte, J (Author) Other; Alexandre Lima (Author) FCUP; Veiga, JP (Author) Other; Silva, RJC (Author) Other; Mirao, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Archaeological Science

Vol. 93

Pages: 1-16

ISSN: 0305-4403

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-QAG

DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2018.02.007

Abstract (EN): Provenance and production of tin in the Ancient World has since long been a major topic of discussion among archaeologists. In Western Europe, where significant tin ore (cassiterite) deposits are known, only a few remains of ancient tin production, such as tin slags, have been detected. In the present work, elemental and microstructural analyses by WDXRF, SEM-EDS and XRD were performed on recently recognised tin slags from the Iron Age Carvalhelhos hillfort located in NW Iberia, a territory that represents the largest extension with tin mineralisation in Western Europe. Elemental and microstructural characterisation of cassiterite collected in a pilot field survey in the region of the hillfort are presented and discussed, as well as two ceramic fragments that could be part of a smelting structure and an iron slag from the settlement. Results show that the tin slags have variable but high contents in Sn, similarly to Pre-Medieval tin slags found in other Western European areas, but also high contents of Ta and Nb, which specifically distinguish them from other tin slags, such as those found in SW Britain. Tin ores from the hillfort region frequently have Ta and Nb in cassiterite solid solution or as inclusions of columbite group minerals, relating well with the Carvalhelhos tin slags. Up to present, the Carvalhelhos slags are amongst the very few ancient tin slags known in Western Europe, and their study can contribute to a better knowledge on ancient tin sources and trade routes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16