The first isotopic evidence of Early Iron Age lead ore exploitation in the Silesian‐Krakow upland, Poland: a provenance study of Lusatian culture lead ornaments

Abstract The Bronze and Early Iron Ages witnessed a significant increase in trade relations driven by the search for valuable metals. This paper presents new insights into the use of galena from the Silesia and Krakow Upland region in southern Poland, known as the ‘Olkusz ore deposits’, within the context of metal ores in prehistoric Europe. Eleven lead‐based ornaments from Lusatian Urnfield Culture cemeteries were examined using lead isotope analysis. The majority of these ornaments were found to be made from local ore, which provides evidence for the early exploitation of Olkusz lead deposits dating back 1,000 years earlier than previously known from archaeological artefacts.