Forschungsperspektiven der Montanarchäologie auf den Balearen. Antike Blei- und Silbergewinnung auf Ibiza

Abstract

The mining district of s’Argentera has been exploited during the second half of 19th
c. and the beginning of 20th century. However, previous mining activities are known by archive
documents as well as by older mining traces identified during the survey in July 2010.
By means of chemical and lead-isotopic characterization of the lead-ores from the mine, a
geochemical fingerprint of the ore deposits was developed in order to discern this site from
other ore deposits from the Iberian Peninsula as e.g. Almería, Cartagena or Sierra Morena.
To compare the thus obtained data, lead-ores, semi-finished and waste products from the
Phoenician settlement Sa Caleta as well as other archaeological finds on the island of Ibiza
were analysed. The therefrom derived cultural and historical considerations must be verified
in future by a higher number of analysed samples.