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Tracing copper in the Cypro-Minoan script

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

Silvia Ferrara  and
Carol Bell
Silvia Ferrara
Affiliation:
Dipartimento Scienze dell'Antichità, Sapienza, University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5 00185, Rome, Italy (Email: silvia.ferrara@uniroma1.it)
Carol Bell
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY, UK (Email: carol.bell@ucl.ac.uk)
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Abstract

The Cypro-Minoan script was in regular use on the island of Cyprus, and by Cypriot merchants overseas, during the Late Bronze Age. Although still undeciphered, sign-sequences inscribed on miniature copper ‘oxhide’ ingots and on associated clay labels may hold a clue to their purpose. The ingots were previously interpreted as votive offerings inscribed with dedications. Here, it is suggested instead that these extremely pure copper miniatures were produced as commercial samples, and were marked with a brand denoting their high quality and provenance, such as ‘pure Cypriot copper’.

Keywords

CyprusLate Bronze Agewritingepigraphycopperingot
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 90 , Issue 352 , August 2016 , pp. 1009 - 1021
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2016 

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