METALLURGICAL EVIDENCE FROM THE ETRUSCAN SETTLEMENT OF SPINA: FIRST RESULTS FROM THE 2023 EXCAVATION CAMPAIGN

The archaeological investigation conducted within the Spina CFR 2023 project aims to examine the role of the Etruscan site of Spina as a productive and commercial hub within the broader Mediterranean context. A central objective of the study is the combined analysis of slag and metal artifacts, whose chemical and microstructural characterization will provide crucial insights into metallurgical techniques, production processes, and the distinction between locally manufactured and imported objects, contributing to advances in archaeometry. Current analyses employ both portable and microscopic techniques (XRF, SEM-EDS) complemented by initial observations with a stereomicroscope and a Hyrox microscope. Additional mineralogical and spectroscopic investigations (XRD, Raman) will be carried out in subsequent phases. This integrated analytical strategy will support the preliminary classification of metal artifacts and slag, guiding the selection of samples for more detailed follow-up studies [1,2]. The study will concentrate particularly on the newly discovered aiming to identify the primary mineral phases formed during metallurgical processes and to measure their trace element content. These data will help reconstruct the origin of the raw materials, the conditions of metal smelting and transformation, and the key technological variables involved [3]. The integration of these results will contribute to defining the profile of craft activities at the site, clarifying the degree of metallurgical specialization in Spina and its role within the wider production networks in the Po Valley.