Page 31 - Osor v fokusu znanosti

Tin Imports to Osor in the Early Iron Age
(900–700 BCE)

Wayne G. Powell, Ryan Mathur, Martina Blečić Kavur, and Boris Kavur 2025
Invited Lecture
November

Abstract Statistical distributions of the isotopic composition of assem-
blages of artifacts vary both in terms of time and space. This variation identi-
fies shifting metal markets that linked source to consumer. An initial analysis 4–5
of 17 bronze artifacts from Osor dating to the interval of 900–700 BCE yield a
/ Sn (NIST 3161a) of 0.95% from –0.07 to 0.88% with a mean of
range in σ 124 116 Koper,
0.41% . This is comparable to the broader character of Istrian bronze at that
time: 54 samples yielding a range of –0.25 to 1.12% and mean of 0.49% .Fur- •
thermore, the Sn isotopic composition of these Adriatic bronze assemblages
is similar to that exhibited by Nuragic bronzetti dating to 1000–700 BCE. This Spotlight
suggests a homogenization of the northern Mediterranean tin market with
the metal likely originating predominantly from western Europe. This is in
contrast to the nature of tin import to the Caput Adriae in the preceding
Late Bronze Age (1300–1000 BCE), when the tin was associated with a higher
/ Sn distribution (mean 0.75% ), comparable to the tin cargo of the
σ 124 116 Scientific
Uluburun shipwreck (ca. 1300BCE) on the southern coast of Turkey. The shift
/ Sn in northern Adriatic in the Early Iron Age reflects
to lower average σ 124 116 the
the collapse of markets bringing tin from eastern sources, and a new reliance
on tin derived from the deposits of Europe. in
Osor
Keywords Adriatic, Caput Adriae, Early Iron Age, tin isotopes, tin trade

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