Flat-bladed copper dagger

The number of objects made from copper, dating from the Eneolithic period (III - II millennium B.C.),  which have been excavated on Elba, shows the importance of this mineral to the local communities. Copper could be extracted from surface deposits, making it relatively easy to mine, however it is also true that Elba is not extremely rich in copper, which is also why many objects from that period were made of stone rather than metal. It also seems evident that the presence of copper deposits was not a decisive factor in selecting a location for a settlement. Instead, the main driver was a good defensive location, followed by other factors linked to the economic aspects of the agro-pastoral economy such as the practice of transhumance.