Ancient copper mine hints that Iberia played an important role in Bronze Age trade networks
Copper is essential for making bronze, which shaped tools, weapons and ornaments across Bronze Age Europe. While many Bronze Age mines have been identified throughout Europe, researchers are still trying to pin down which of them were most active at different times and how far their copper traveled. New research, published in the journal Antiquity, suggests that a series of mines in modern-day…
Ancient copper mines discovered in southern Spain suggest that Iberia played a significant role in the Bronze Age trade networks, supplying copper to distant regions like Scandinavia. The Late Bronze Age, spanning from approximately 3200 B.C. to 500 B.C., saw prominent mining sites emerge in Wales and the Austrian Alps, with the Mitterberg district becoming the main supplier of copper for Central Europe during the Middle Bronze Age.
However, research indicates that southern Iberia, particularly the Las Minillas mine, was an important source of copper during the Late Bronze Age, with some of the copper ending up as far away as Scandinavia. The Las Minillas mine, estimated to have operated between 1300 and 800/700 B.C., is now considered the largest securely dated Late Bronze Age copper mine excavated in Iberia.
When analyzed, the copper from the Las Minillas mine matched the lead-isotope signatures and chemical compositions of ores and metalworking remains found in Scandinavian bronzes, supporting the theory that southern Iberian mines collectively supplied distant markets through maritime networks along the Atlantic coast. The Italian Alps later became the primary source of copper after the decline of other European mining centers.
Despite uncertainties surrounding many of Iberia's ancient mines, this research provides evidence of Iberia's significant contribution to the Bronze Age trade networks.
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