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Where did the copper, tin and gold come from?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of When was the disc made and buried?·2 answers·0·0 following
Answered: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.Passed its tests and review.

Where it stands

Two answers have been proposed. Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River. leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. One is still possible.

Why it matters

The metal sources tie the disc to Bronze Age exchange networks and, through the dates of mining, constrain its earliest possible age⁠[1].

Answers 2

Evidence: 3 for
Most likely
None of these.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: none yet
Disputed

History

  1. Haustein et al.: the disc's tin isotope ratio fits the bulk of Cornish tin ores.For: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.
  2. Ehser et al.: gold inlay composition matches natural gold from Cornwall.For: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.
  3. Pernicka et al. puts forward: copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.
  4. Pernicka et al.: trace elements and lead isotope ratios match Mitterberg copper ores.For: Copper from the Mitterberg in the Salzburg Alps; tin and gold from Cornwall, the gold from the Carnon River.
  5. Asked on this site
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