New data on Irish Later Bronze Age metallurgy: exploring technological continuity and change

Despite decades of research on Bronze Age metallurgy in Europe, the development of Ireland’s metalwork production and underpinning supply networks remains comparatively understudied, particularly in terms of large-scale analytical datasets capable of capturing regional and temporal variability. Addressing this gap, this study presents new data on metal production in Ireland during the Bronze Age, based on the chemical analysis of 105 metal artefacts from a variety of archaeological contexts. The analysed objects originate from multiple sites across the island, represent a range of typological categories, and are chronologically attributed to the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1550–1140 BCE) and the Late Bronze Age (c. 1140–800 BCE). The analytical results indicate that most artefacts were produced from bronze alloys (Cu-Sn) with relatively low concentrations of secondary elements. However, some objects exhibited higher lead (Pb) content, suggesting its occasional deliberate use in Irish metallurgy. Overall, the data reveal a technological continuity from the end of the Early Bronze Age through approximately eight centuries, from the Middle Bronze Age to the Late Bronze Age, with minimal significant changes in chemical composition. The main exceptions to this trend are discussed in detail, providing insights into the variability of metallurgical practices in use. By integrating a substantial corpus of new compositional data, this study refines our understanding of metallurgical continuity and innovation in Ireland, and situates it within broader European technological trajectories, thereby contributing to ongoing debates on craft organisation and cultural interaction during the Bronze Age.