We present the results of a complex archaeometric study of Late Bronze Age copper ingots from the Staré Hodějovice hoard (South Bohemia). In order to understand the origin of the copper and describe the metallurgical process, we use modern analytical methods (metallography analyses, major/trace element and lead isotope analyses) to describe the samples. Within this study, a representative dataset of trace element composition and lead isotope ratios of non-alloyed and non-recycled corpus of copper ingots from the Late Bronze Age was created. We assume that most of the ingots were not altered by alloying, mixing or recycling. Based on lead isotope ratios and major/trace element composition, we suppose that the origin of the copper could be mostly Alpine ores from the Trentino and Mitterberg regions and possibly the Valais region. By this study, it was proved that copper smelted by a matte smelting process was transported in the form of flat or plano-convex ingots from multiple sources to South Bohemia, where it was subsequently refined and alloyed. Obtained analytical results refute the idea of prevailing copper recycling in the Late Bronze Age.

中文翻译：

---

跟踪高山铜—南波西米亚晚期青铜时代铜锭储藏的分析

我们介绍了来自StaréHodějovice宝库（南波希米亚）的晚期青铜时代铜锭的复杂考古研究的结果。为了了解铜的来源并描述冶金过程，我们使用了现代分析方法（金相分析，主要/痕量元素和铅同位素分析）来描述样品。在这项研究中，创建了一个具有代表性的数据集，该数据集是晚期青铜时代非合金和非回收铜锭料的微量元素组成和铅同位素比的代表。我们假设大多数铸锭未因合金化，混合或回收而改变。基于铅同位素比和主要/痕量元素组成，我们假设铜的来源可能主要来自特伦蒂诺和米特贝格地区以及瓦莱州地区的高山矿石。通过这项研究，事实证明，通过无光冶炼工艺冶炼的铜以扁平或平凸锭的形式从多个来源运输到南波希米亚，随后在此进行精炼和合金化。获得的分析结果驳斥了晚期青铜时代流行的铜回收的想法。