Lingotes normalizados de metal en el Próximo Oriente desde el Eneolítico a la Edad del Bronce

• Autores: Liudmila Avilova, N. N. Terejova
• Localización: Aula Orientalis: Revista de estudios del Próximo Oriente Antiguo, ISSN 0212-5730, Vol. 25, Nº. 2, 2007, págs. 183-199
• Idioma: español
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• Resumen

  • This article by L.I. Avilova and N.N. Terekhova reviews the archaeological finds from the Near East and Central Asia interpreted as standard ingots of cooper/bronze and noble metals (the Chalcolithic - the Late Bronze Age). Several types of ingots are discussed. Special attention is paid to "long pins" with drop-like bulb on the end. Analytical investigations of a series of these finds from Central Asia show them to be standard ingots of cooper/bronze cast by series and non-processed after casting, used as blanks for forging out tools, and exchange equivalents. These conclusions may be extrapolated to the numerous finds from Iran and single finds from Mesopotamia. The following classification of the Bronze Age ingots is suggested: first, the objects of exchange were finished artefacts, then ingots or raw metal; roughly at the same time, marketable bar-shaped ingots and ingots imitating certain artefacts appeared. Standard ingots became the equivalent of value and exchange (early money).