Bronze Age copper supply remains debated. The Uluburun shipwreck, dating to the 14th century BCE, carried 354 copper oxhide ingots—about 10 tonnes. The video argues that recorded Cypriot and wider Old World production was too low to account for the copper in Bronze Age artifacts, and proposes unrecognized mines or supply networks as one explanation. It also argues recycling would not close the gap. The aggregate production totals, percentage shortfall and recycling conclusion are the presenter's claims, not settled archaeological findings.
Video argues Bronze Age copper estimates leave a major shortfall
Key facts
- The Uluburun shipwreck dates to the 14th century BCE and carried 354 copper oxhide ingots, approximately 10 tonnes.
- The video says the copper problem has been studied for roughly 40–50 years.
- The video cites maximum Cypriot output of 31–32 tonnes, recorded Old World extraction of 240–2,000 tonnes, and about 100,000 tonnes of copper in artifacts; the supplied search results do not independently verify these totals.
- Compared directly, the post's 240–2,000-ton supply and 100,000-ton artifact figures imply a 98–99.76% shortfall, not 89–99.76%.
- The video argues that recycling would not resolve the gap and could increase initial copper demand.
Sources
independent.academia.edu
Linked in video description
Expedition Magazine | Archaeometry and Shipwreckspenn.museum
The cargo of the Uluburun ship provides an excellent example of the problems outlined above. The copper ingots seem to be made of Cypriot copper but most of the ...
Lading of the Late Bronze Age ship at Uluburunoaktrust.library.tamu.edu
by SHS Lin · 2012 · Cited by 26 — The Uluburun shipwreck was discovered in 1982 when a Turkish sponge diver informed the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) of his discovery of metal ...
The Uluburun Late Bronze Age Shipwreckarchaeological.org
How large was the Uluburun ship, and how much copper and tin did it carry in its cargo? Answer: The ship was 50 feet long, yet was carrying enough copper and ...
Uluburun shipwrecken.wikipedia.org
Given that the cargo of the Uluburun shipwreck included a large quantity of copper ingots from Cyprus, as well as Cypriot pottery, it is tempting to assume ...
Uluburun Late Bronze Age Shipwreck Excavationnauticalarch.org
The Uluburun ship was transporting a bulk cargo of copper and tin ingots, in the usual ratio of 10:1 to produce bronze. Other cargo included pottery (used ...
Ancient Mining Tools from Cyprusuna-editions.fr
The copper smelting started during the third millennium BC. copper production and export greatly intensified.6. The copper produced on the island was cast into ...
Full article: Cyprus in the 'long' 3rd millennium BCEtandfonline.com
by R Laoutari · 2025 — The importance of Cyprus for the extraction, production and circulation of copper ... 4500–2500 BC. Bulletin of the American Schools of ...
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