An international research team has discovered the origins of the metal used to craft Sardinia’s famous bronze figurines, known as Bronzetti. Using an innovative multi-proxy approach—employing osmium isotopes for the first time—the team was able to draw precise conclusions about the sources of the metals used. The study revealed not only that the copper was mostly sourced from Sardinia itself, but also that the tin required for bronze production was imported from distant regions—primarily the Iberian Peninsula. These findings provide fascinating insights into the trade networks and metallurgical practices of the Nuragic culture during the Late Bronze Age.
The project involved researchers from Aarhus University, the Moesgaard Museum (Denmark), the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie Mannheim, and the Archaeological Authority of Southern Sardinia. The analyses were carried out as part of the “Metals & Giants” project, funded by the Danish Augustinus Foundation and led by Helle Vandkilde, Mads Holst, and Gianfranca Salis.
Precise Analyses through New Isotopic Methods
At the center of the investigation were the small bronze statuettes found in numerous sanctuaries across Sardinia. What made the study special was the application of a new method to determine the origin of the copper used. Several isotopic systems—including copper, tin, lead, and, for the first time, osmium—were combined. This so-called multi-proxy approach was developed at the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie and allows for a significantly more precise differentiation of metal sources.
The result: the Bronzetti were primarily made from Sardinian copper, sometimes mixed with copper from the Iberian Peninsula. Copper from the Near East—such as from Timna (Israel) or Faynan (Jordan)—was not used. Only the analysis of osmium isotopes made this distinction possible with certainty—traditional methods could barely achieve this.
Supra-regional Standards and International Trade Routes
A look at three major Nuragic cult sites also revealed that, despite geographical distances, all sanctuaries used metal in a very similar manner. This suggests that supra-regional standards existed in the production of the Bronzetti.
Another surprising finding: although Sardinia is rich in copper, tin, and lead, only copper was sourced locally for the Bronzetti. The tin necessary for bronze production did not come from Sardinian deposits. Isotopic signatures and chemical compositions indicate that the tin was primarily imported from the Iberian Peninsula.
The study by Daniel Berger, senior researcher at the CEZA in Mannheim, and his co-authors powerfully demonstrates how modern scientific methods can help reconstruct the trade relationships and production techniques of ancient cultures—and confirms that Sardinia was part of a vast network during the Bronze Age.
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