Copper-alloy use in a Tyrrhenian medieval town: The case of Leopoli-Cencelle (Italy)

This study focuses on the use of copper-alloys in the Tyrrhenian town of Leopoli-Cencelle (Italy) during the Middle Ages, and explores the technical aspects and sociocultural implications of metal consumption. Founded near the coast of the Tuscia region as a reaction to threats from Saracens, and located within the main trade routes linking Rome to the northern Tuscan powers of Pisa and Siena, Leopoli-Cencelle was an active town up to the 14th century. This was also facilitated by the proximity of the Tolfa Hills mining district and the important harbour of Corneto. This research concentrates on the technological and compositional study of copper-alloy artefacts such as everyday life objects, dress accessories, work instruments, jewellery, and structural and decorative items. The analytical data reported here includes pXRF, optical microscopy and SEM-EDS, which were employed to acquire information on copper-alloy composition and manufacturing processes. The results allow an assessment of the main alloys employed and their uses, which can be compared to information from medieval written sources, and they provide insight into the nature of the local workshops, and the skill and level of specialisation of metalworkers. Some interesting aspects are the relative scarcity of tin bronzes, which are almost exclusively reserved for bell casting, and the presence of gilded or silvered brasses, which denote influences from the eastern Mediterranean world. The comparison of metal surface and bulk compositions also provides a contribution to evaluate the potential of pXRF analyses on unprepared metal samples.