The article focuses on the analysis of palstaves from the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age in Western Iberia, specifically from Santa Justa in North Portugal. The study aims to provide new technological insights into these artefacts. Two palstaves were examined, revealing that one was made of leaded bronze and the other of binary bronze, each produced using different methods. The analysis involved X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersed X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Optical Microscopy (OM) techniques.
The results showed that the palstaves had distinct compositions and microstructures, indicating regional variations in alloy usage and production techniques. The leaded palstaves were concentrated in the north of Portugal and Galicia, while binary palstaves were more widespread throughout Western Iberia. The craftsmen likely had knowledge of how high-leaded alloys responded to deformation, leading to selective forging and annealing processes based on the alloy composition.
The study suggests that ancient metalworkers employed different operational chains to produce similar objects, highlighting the complexity of technological choices in ancient metallurgy. The research also addresses the challenges of correlating data obtained through various analytical techniques, emphasising the importance of detailed methodology descriptions for accurate comparisons.
Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the technological aspects and regional variations in the production of palstaves in Western Iberia during the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. The study underscores the significance of interdisciplinary approaches in archaeometallurgical research to unravel the complexities of ancient metalworking practices.
