Ancient CyprusAncient Cyprus

Article · 2014

New insights into Levantine copper trade: analysis of ingots from the Bronze and Iron Ages in Israel

N. Yahalom-Mack, E. Galili, I. Segal, A. Eliyahu-Behar, E. Boaretto, S. Shilstein and I. Finkelstein

Journal of Archaeological Science 45 159-177

An article on 27 Bronze and Iron Age copper ingots from Hazor and the Carmel coast, analysed by microstructure, composition, lead isotopes and radiocarbon dating to identify copper sources and trade.

Yahalom-Mack and colleagues analyse 27 copper ingots from Hazor, from underwater finds off the Carmel coast at Neve Yam and Kefar Samir, and from comparative material at Timna, Bir Nasib and Tell Deir Alla, in order to trace changing copper sources and exchange between Cyprus and the Arabah. The methods are optical and electron microscopy, bulk chemical analysis by ICP-AES, lead isotope analysis by MC-ICP-MS and radiocarbon dating of charcoal embedded in two Hazor ingots, and the results are compared with ore, slag and ingot data from the eastern Mediterranean. A sample table gives site, ingot type, dimensions and weight.

They propose that Cypriot copper reached the Levant in different forms and phases: small unrefined ingots at Hazor in Middle Bronze Age II and Late Bronze Age I, then oxhide ingots in Late Bronze Age II. The Neve Yam ingots form a chemically and isotopically homogeneous group, and their lead content makes Faynan the authors' preferred source, suggesting that Faynan temporarily became a major supplier in maritime trade (pp. 169–175). Yahalom-Mack and colleagues find most Kefar Samir fragments consistent with Cypriot ores, particularly Apliki.

The periods follow Stern (2008): Intermediate Bronze Age, Middle Bronze Age II, Late Bronze Age I and II, and Iron Age I to IIA. The proposed Faynan production represented at Neve Yam falls in Iron Age I to IIA, and the radiocarbon results carry the use of similar plano-convex ingots at Hazor into the 9th century BCE.

What it records

  • Yahalom-Mack and colleagues analysed 27 copper ingots, mostly from the second and first millennia BCE.p. 161
  • Faynan is the likelier copper source for the Neve Yam ingots, in the authors' reading.p. 169
  • Most Kefar Samir ingots are consistent with the Apliki ore deposit in Cyprus, in the authors' analysis.p. 171
  • The Hazor bar ingot METB52 is likely to be a Faynan product of the Intermediate Bronze Age, in the authors' view.p. 171
  • Radiocarbon results date the Hazor ingot METB54 to the 17th–16th century BC and METB55 mostly to the 9th century BC.p. 171
  • Yahalom-Mack and colleagues describe a shift from Faynan copper to Cypriot copper and back to Faynan, before a revival of Cypriot copper in the 9th century BCE.p. 174

Where to read

  • Neve Yam ingots and proposed Faynan provenancepp. 169–173
  • Kefar Samir ingot fragments and Cypriot ore comparisonspp. 169–173
  • Hazor ingots, radiocarbon dates and ore sourcespp. 170–173

Contents

  • 1. Introduction159
  • 1.1. Copper ingots159
  • 1.2. Copper ore sources in the Near East163
  • 1.3. Lead isotope analysis163
  • 2. Methods164
  • 3. Results164
  • 3.5. Summary of results by site171
  • 4. Discussion172
  • 4.1. Intermediate Bronze Age173
  • 4.2. Middle Bronze Age II/Late Bronze Age I173
  • 4.3. Late Bronze Age II173
  • 4.4. Iron Age I to Iron Age IIA173
  • 4.5. Iron Age II174
  • 5. Conclusions175

Objects published here

5
  • Bar-shaped ingot METB52, Hazor, Area A3, 27586 (L3972), Fig. 10 (p. 171)
  • Ring-shaped ingot METB53, Hazor, Area A5, 62842 (L9440), Figs. 7–8 (p. 164)
  • Plano-convex ingot METB54, Hazor, Area A5, 64103 (L06A5007), Fig. 9 (p. 171)
  • Plano-convex ingot METB55, Hazor, Area A5, 64026 (L06A5002), Fig. 9 (p. 171)
  • Loaf-shaped ingot YAM 14, Neve Yam, 72, Fig. 5 (p. 164)

People, places and institutions

People

Places

  • Hazorsource of analysed ingots
  • Neve Yamunderwater ingot assemblage
  • Kefar Samir (north)underwater ingot fragments
  • Faynanproposed copper source
  • Timnacopper source and comparative material
  • Bir Nasibsource of an analysed ingot
  • Tell Deir Allasource of comparative ingot
  • Carmel coastunderwater finds and trade route
  • Arabahcopper-producing region
  • Aplikiproposed source of ingots
  • Ambelikouproposed source of Hazor ingots
  • Cape Gelidonyacomparison for ingot cargo

Also named: Hishulei Carmel, Uluburun shipwreck, A. Ben-Tor, Selz Foundation Hazor Excavations, Israel Antiquities Authority.

Extent pp. 159–177, 17 figs, 1 map; bibliography

Early Bronze AgeMiddle Bronze AgeLate Bronze AgeCopperTradeSeafaringTechnologyChronology and Dating

Cited on Ancient Cyprus

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