Maritime connections in the Western Mediterranean and access to copper resources in the Balearic Islands during the Late Bronze Age: Isotopic characterization of the bronze deposit at Es Mitjà Gran, Mallorca

Abstract

A very notable phenomenon took place during the final stages of the Late Bronze Age in the Balearic Islands: ritualistic, votive deposits of certain bronze objects. Of the various deposits that have been discovered, that at Es Mitjà Gran in Mallorca is among the most significant in terms of both the variety and number of objects found. Isotope analyses have allowed some of these objects to be linked with various areas around the Western Mediterranean and the European continent. These objects allow us to confirm and expand upon the web of known sailing networks and connections that existed between the Balearic Islands and continental Europe in the framework of prehistoric, Late Bronze Age maritime routes around the Western Mediterranean.

New contributions to understand animal size fluctuations in the western mediterranean: The bronze age Balearic Islands

“…The Balearic Islands, although in a very regional way, were not exempt to these changes. The arrival of exogenous products, attested by copper and ivory objects (Escanilla et al, 2017;Sureda, 2019;Llull et al, 2022), indicates the existence of some exchanges and communication channels between the populations of the islands and overseas, most notably during the LBA. At this time some bigger sheep and goats are attested at some Balearic sites (i.e.…”

Paths Across the Sea: Meteo-Marine Conditions for Coastal Navigation Around the Balearic Islands During the Middle and Late Bronze Ages

“…The map shows how navigation between the archipelago and between the islands and the continent can be achieved with at least one landmass being always in sight. (Sureda, 2020;Llull Estarellas, Perelló Mateo and Calvo Trias, 2022) Table 1: Chronological information of the Middle and Late Bronze Age coastal sites.…”