Archaeometrical analysis of archaeological metals: preliminary data from Miranduolo and Poggio Imperiale in Poggibonsi (Siena, Tuscany)

The purpose of this paper is to understand the production and commercial cycle of metals in the medieval sites of Miranduolo and Poggio Imperiale a Poggibonsi, in the province of Siena, Central-Southern Tuscany. An attempt will be made to evaluate the study of metal from the extraction and processing, but also the trade, the recycling and the reuse of metal objects. Based on recent studies, we know that recycling and reuse are two different and widespread practices. However, in socio-economic models, recycling and reuse are little considered phenomena. Moreover, there is a lack of studies on the incidence of recycling and reuse over time. For example, what was the incidence of object recycling in the 7th century and how much in the 11th century? Was it present not only in times of crisis, and is the phenomenon associated with a better or worse workforce or social status of the blacksmith? To try to answer these questions, in addition to analysing some historical and archaeological issues, some preliminary data provided by archaeometallurgical analyses, conducted in cooperation with the Department of Geology of the Masaryk University in Brno, will be presented. Thanks to the results of the archaeometallurgical analyses, we will be able to understand both the phenomenon of recycling and the processing technique and quality of the product.