Speiss at Amarna (Egypt, c. 1353–1336 BCE) – Exotic anachronism or cherished commodity?

This paper presents the most comprehensive study of speiss from the Late Bronze Age world published so far, and the first detailed study of speiss from the Nile Valley overall. It combines the results of XRD, optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, trace element (ICP-OES and ICP-MS) and lead isotopic analysis to fully characterise two fragments of speiss from the 18th Dynasty capital Amarna in Egypt, now in the British Museum collection. This multi-analytical approach enables us to link these unique finds to production and consumption evidence in the wider region. Our results show that speiss was being (indirectly) imported to Egypt during the Amarna Period, likely from Anatolia, thus providing the first strong evidence for speiss being a long-distance exchange commodity in the Bronze Age world. This is further related to similar finds in the region, indicating the inclusion of speiss within broader well-known (maritime) trade networks. This paper opens a wider debate regarding the importance of speiss and arsenical copper alloying during the Late Bronze Age, a period in which arsenical alloys have long been presumed to become marginalised and replaced by tin bronze alloys. At least two likely spheres of speiss production, the Aegean and Anatolia, are identified and similarities in their archaeological consumption contexts is considered indicative of the metallurgical function of speiss. By relating these results to copper alloy compositions, workshop remains and wider evidence for long-term craft practices, this paper provides a novel perspective from which to consider Late Bronze Age metal stocks circulating in the Nile Valley and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, and the role of speiss therein. •Ferrous speiss from the 18th Dynasty Egyptian capital Amarna.•First detailed characterisation of speiss from the ancient Nile Valley.•Evidence for long-distance exchange of speiss during the Late Bronze Age.•Considering slow transitions from arsenic to tin bronze alloys.