MARZABOTTO ON ITS OWN? ARCHAEOMETALLURGICAL INVESTIGATION OF COPPER BASED FINDS FROM ETRUSCAN TOWN OF MARZABOTTO (IT)

The paper presents results of archaeometallurgical investigation of copper based finds from Etruscan town of Marza- botto (ancient Kainua). The research focus on finds from different stages of the chaîne opératoire of copper based metallurgy of supposed Etruscan and Celtic origin (slags, raw material, production waste, finished artefacts) found on site and its surroundings. The investigation is done through material analysis (XRF, metallography, ICP-MS) com- pared with find context, typology and chronology of finds. The use of copper with specific composition in form of “Fahlerzkupfer” (high amounts of As, Sb, and also Ag, Bi) was identified. This specific material is connected mainly with supposed locally produced copper based artefacts unlike alleged imported finds. Appearance and significance of this specific material was investigated during the Iron Age. For this reason, possibilities of use of local ores for local production are investigated. It seems, that Marzabotto stood somehow on its own in the Apennines.