The smelting of copper in the third millennium cal BC Trentino, north-eastern Italy

Abstract This paper presents observations and analyses on seven slag pieces from two third-millennium cal BC (Late Copper Age/Early Bronze Age) rock shelters in the Trentino, north-eastern Italy: La Vela di Valbusa Riparo Monte Terlago. We review previous work contemporary slags region show that smelting did not follow well-known ‘Timna’, ‘Eibner’ or so-called ‘Chalcolithic’ copper processes. ethnographic accounts of Himalayas (Sikkim Nepal) illuminate process, particular lack preliminary roasting ore beneficiation by washing, use as fluxes for first smelt (matte smelting) wooden (?) implements to lift hot furnace during smelt. The inclusions are consistent with an origin mines at Calceranica Vetriolo, previously reported literature.