Bronze production in the Po Plain: technological evidence from the Middle – Late Bronze Age site of Solarolo (Northern Italy)

The second half of the 2nd millennium BCE was a period of technological and economic transformation in Europe, marked by intensified metallurgical production and extensive exchange networks. Communities in the Po Plain (Northern Italy) played a pivotal role in bronze production and in mediating the diffusion of metallurgical knowledge between continental Europe and the Mediterranean. Despite significant advances in recent decades, research on metal artefacts has focused predominantly on typological analyses, often overlooking production evidence such as technical ceramics and secondary by-products, limiting our understanding of metallurgical processes and their socio-economic contexts. The Bronze Age settlement of Solarolo (c.1650-1200 BCE), one of the largest in the eastern Po Plain, has yielded a rich assemblage of metallurgical remains, including crucibles, by-products and finished objects, making it an ideal case study to investigate metal production in the region. Through Digital Microscopy and SEM-EDS analysis, this study examines resource acquisition, technological organization, and the site's role within Po Plain metalworking networks. Results indicate that copper, often acquired in a partially refined state, was further purified on-site and deliberately alloyed with tin, likely using cassiterite, demonstrating specialised metallurgical knowledge and active bronze production rather than simple remelting/recycling. Technological parallels with contemporary sites suggest a complex, socially stratified system of metal production across the Po Plain, characterized by standardized practices, shared techniques, and coordinated access to raw materials. Overall, this research enhances our understanding of Middle-Late Bronze Age metalworking and the socio-economic dynamics of Po Plain communities, paving the way for extended comparative studies.