Estudio preliminar de las escorias y escorificaciones del yacimiento metalúrgico de la Edad del Bronce de Peñalosa (Baños de la Encina, Jaén)

Abstract

This paper offers a revision of the metallurgical pro- cesses carried out at the settlement on the basis of a re- cent analytical study of slags and slagged metallurgical ceramics. These analyses allowed us to identify the ores processed and the characteristics of this metal production. Therefore, the results obtained provide new perspectives to determining what type of technology was developed and the working conditions of the different processes carried out at the site. In this sense, the use of lead-rich copper ores stands out in explaining the pres- ence of high quantities of lead compounds detected in various metallurgical ceramics and in secondary prod- ucts, like slags and melting wastes. The present study also includes typological and technological analysis of metallurgical ceramic vessels.