Archeometrical Study of Metallic Remains from

Abstract

This paper shows the results of the archeometallurgical study of 31 iron pieces, 23 bronze pieces, 1 silver, and 1 gold piece found in the archeological site of La Ulaña, which is located in the north of Spain in the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains, and that lived its period of greatest splendor coinciding with the Second Iron Age. The basic chemical and microstructural analyses of the iron- and copper-based objects provide an overview of the use of these metals in the site. The results obtained are compared with those published from other archeological sites nearby. In addition, the most unique pieces are set in their archeological context to facilitate the understanding of their chronological ascription.