Investigating new material from Early Bronze Age Troy—isotopic and chemical composition of copper alloys

Abstract Research on Trojan metallurgy has traditionally focused on the composition and circulation of copper and its alloys, though early excavations provided limited stratigraphic dating for Early Bronze Age objects. More recent excavations (Korfmann/Pernicka) have yielded well-stratified finds, which were examined in this study through X-ray fluorescence and lead isotope analysis. Arsenical copper dominates the assemblage, followed by unalloyed copper and tin bronze—the latter appearing in Troy II (Late) and vanishing in Troy IV, primarily within the citadel. Notably, some Troy II–III objects derive from geologically old copper sources absent in the Aegean/Anatolian core region, with the Arabian Peninsula proposed as a possible origin. Some tin bronzes exhibit regional lead isotope signatures, suggesting local alloying rather than exclusive importation of finished bronze. Statistical tests further confirm that arsenic, antimony, and cobalt concentrations remain stable across corroded and uncorroded samples, supporting their reliability for compositional analysis.