Previous theories argue that Bronze Age people bartered or used the valuable metal for ceremonial purposes exclusively, but the new research, published in the journal Antiquity, suggests that bronze was also used as a medium of exchange.
The study's authors analyzed a large number of bronze objects found at archaeological sites in the Near East and Europe, dating from the 4th to the 2nd millennium BCE. They found that the objects were often made of different alloys and had different levels of purity, which suggests that they were not simply used for ceremonial purposes.
The authors also argue that the bronze objects were often found in association with other goods, such as pottery and food, which suggests that they were being used as a form of payment.
The study's findings support the theory that bronze was used as a currency in the Bronze Age and challenges the traditional view that money did not exist until the invention of coins.
