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Alpine ice-core evidence for the transformation of the European monetary system, AD 640-670

Loveluck, Christopher P.; McCormick, Michael; Spaulding, Nicole E.; Clifford, Heather; Handley, Michael J.; Hartman, Laura; Hoffmann, Helene; Korotkikh, Elena V.; Kurbatov, Andrei V.; More, Alexander F.; Sneed, Sharon B.; Mayewski, Paul A.

Authors

Michael McCormick

Nicole E. Spaulding

Heather Clifford

Michael J. Handley

Laura Hartman

Helene Hoffmann

Elena V. Korotkikh

Andrei V. Kurbatov

Alexander F. More

Sharon B. Sneed

Paul A. Mayewski



Abstract

© Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2018. The seventh-century AD switch from gold to silver currencies transformed the socio-economic landscape of North-west Europe. The source of silver, however, has proven elusive. Recent research, integrating ice-core data from the Colle Gnifetti drill site in the Swiss Alps, geoarchaeological records and numismatic and historical data, has provided new evidence for this transformation. Annual ice-core resolution data are combined with lead pollution analysis to demonstrate that significant new silver mining facilitated the change to silver coinage, and dates the introduction of such coinage to c. AD 660. Archaeological evidence and atmospheric modelling of lead pollution locates the probable source of the silver to mines at Melle, in France.

Citation

Loveluck, C. P., McCormick, M., Spaulding, N. E., Clifford, H., Handley, M. J., Hartman, L., …Mayewski, P. A. (2018). Alpine ice-core evidence for the transformation of the European monetary system, AD 640-670. Antiquity, 92(366), 1571-1585. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2018.110

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 22, 2018
Online Publication Date Nov 14, 2018
Publication Date Dec 1, 2018
Deposit Date Jul 13, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Antiquity
Print ISSN 0003-598X
Electronic ISSN 1745-1744
Publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 92
Issue 366
Pages 1571-1585
DOI https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2018.110
Keywords Archaeology; General Arts and Humanities
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1114631
Publisher URL https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/alpine-icecore-evidence-for-the-transformation-of-the-european-monetary-system-ad-640670/0727B4230C5DA92634B6251B9FBD3898

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