A database of lead isotopic signatures of copper and lead ores for Europe and the Near East

The objective of this synthesis work was to create a database compiling as many as possible of the lead isotope analyses performed to date on ores from copper and/or lead deposits. The database is intended to be as exhaustive as possible and is based on existing compilations and enriched with data from various publications. The isotopic signatures are derived from geological and archaeological studies covering a large part of Europe, the Near East and the Urals. The compiled data have been sorted and cleaned. Analyses performed on host rocks and deposits without copper and lead have been removed from the final compilation. Incomplete data have also been removed. A column is used to select only the signatures of high and/or low copper or lead deposits. A GPS coordinate (WGS 84) is indicated for each locality. This database of approximately 7400 isotopic signatures is intended to be directly useable for provenance studies aimed at tracing the origin of copper and/or lead contained in artifacts. The database produced is provided as a supplement to this article.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to create a comprehensive database compiling lead isotope analyses of copper and/or lead ores. The database includes isotopic signatures from geological and archaeological studies, covering a large area, and excludes incomplete and unrelated data. The database is a valuable tool for provenance studies.