The cargo, which contains metal ingots and stone anchors dating back to about 3500 years ago, proves that there were significant trade relations between Cyprus and distant Sardinia
In the Late Bronze Age, a system of branched connections and diplomacy existed in the Mediterranean basin, which included, among other things, trade and gift exchange. Lead ingots and stone anchors, recently discovered off the coast of Israel, reveal distant trade ties that we didn't know about, telling the story of the people who lived in this area 3500 years ago, during the Late Bronze Age.
The researchers Prof. Naama Yahlom Mack from the Institute of Archeology and Prof. Yigal Aral from the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University, were able to date the lead, determine its origin and through it conclude that there were extensive trade relations between Cyprus and Sardinia of that time, which are located at a distance of about 2500 km. The research was published in the scientific journal "Journal of Archaeological Science: Report" and was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Udi Galili and Prof. Assaf Yassur Landau from the University of Haifa.
With the help of isotopic analysis of the lead, the researchers compared the metal to other sources in the Mediterranean Sea and proved that the ingots themselves are made of lead found in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, on the island of Sardinia. On the ingots themselves were found signs of Cypriot-Minoan writing, which has not been deciphered to this day, but is known to have been used in Cyprus during the Late Bronze Age. Thus the researchers concluded that trade relations existed between the countries and that the Cypriots initiated this relation, with the aim of bringing raw materials that they needed.
Prof. Yaholum Mak explains: "The research teaches us about the active role the Cypriots played in the trade of the period and that they went as far as Cyprus to bring lead which they used together with the copper to create luxury objects at the end of the period. We estimate that together with the lead, they also brought tin, which was a sought-after commodity in Cyprus and throughout the area in order to make bronze. They traded the three metals, copper, lead and tin, to port cities along the coasts, including the shores of the Land of Israel."
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