The results of a study conducted by an international team of researchers on silver and lead production in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula during the first millennium BC challenge previous theories about the impact of the Phoenician commercial crisis of the 6th century BC on this important economic activity.
The study, recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, analyzes litharge (by-products of silver metallurgy) dated between the early 5th century BC and the first half of the 3rd century BC, from three sites in the province of Alicante. The results show that, contrary to previous beliefs, silver and lead production did not abruptly stop after the Phoenician trade crisis, but rather continued, albeit probably on a smaller scale.
The researchers, led by Céline Tomczyk from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, examined litharge found at the sites of El Oral, Las Tres Hermanas, and La Illeta dels Banyets, all located about 80 kilometers north of the Cartagena mines. Through chemical and lead isotope analyses, the team determined that these metallurgical remains had very similar characteristics to each other and to the litharge produced in previous centuries in the same region.
The similarity in size, texture, and composition of the litharge studied with that found in Phoenician smelting workshops at Cabezo Pequeño del Estaño (Mazarrón, Murcia), and the sites of La Fonteta and Punta de los Gavilanes, suggests that similar cupellation processes were employed over several centuries, likely using ceramic vessels of similar shape. This finding indicates continuity in metallurgical techniques and sources of raw materials, despite the economic and political changes that affected the region.
Lead isotope analysis conducted on the litharge and two associated lead artifacts revealed that they all came from the Cartagena-La Unión mining area, known for its richness and intensively exploited between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. This discovery is particularly significant, as it was previously believed that production in this area had almost completely ceased after the Phoenician trade crisis.
The researchers explain that our findings show that, despite a significant decline in mining and metallurgical production, and considerable changes in exchange networks in the Mediterranean, the same production chain persisted from lead extraction to the type of metallurgy practiced. The economic crisis did not, therefore, lead to a cessation of production, although the amount of lead and silver produced was probably significantly smaller.
This study sheds new light on a little-known period of the economic history of the Iberian Peninsula. While the phases of intensive exploitation of the Cartagena-La Unión mines during the Phoenician period (8th-6th centuries BC) and the Roman era (from the 2nd century BC onwards) are well-documented, the intermediate period has so far been something of a “black hole” in archaeological research.
The results of this study suggest that, although on a smaller scale, silver and lead production continued in the region even after the Phoenician trade crisis. This persistence in metallurgical activity could have played a crucial role in maintaining the skills and technical knowledge that would later allow the rapid expansion of production under Roman rule.
This discovery forces us to reconsider our ideas about the impact of economic crises on ancient societies. It demonstrates a remarkable resilience and adaptability of local communities in the face of changes in long-distance trade networks, the researchers note.
The research also raises new questions about trade networks and the use of silver and lead during this period. Although production seems to have continued, it is still unclear how these metals were distributed and what role they played in the local and regional economy.
This study is part of a broader project aimed at better understanding the interactions between indigenous, Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian, and Roman populations in the Iberian Peninsula during the first millennium BC. The findings underscore the complexity of these relationships and the importance of the Cartagena-La Unión region in the ancient Mediterranean economy.
The researchers plan to continue their studies, expanding the geographical area and temporal range of their research. They hope that future archaeological finds, combined with chemical and isotope analyses, will provide an even more detailed picture of metal production and trade in ancient Iberia.
Estimating the tonnages of mine production is complex, as mining areas have been extensively remodeled from the Roman period to the modern era. However, sedimentary records indicate a sharp decline in production during the 6th century BC. The production of the Cartagena mines probably decreased after this crisis, but did not cease altogether, the study concludes.
SOURCES
Céline Tomczyk, Christophe Petit, et al., Continuity of lead-silver production in the area of Cartagena-La Unión (Spain) after the Phoenician trade crisis of the 6th century BC. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 59, November 2024, 104742. doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104742
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