Gold trade between the United Kingdom and Ireland began in the Bronze Age, according to a new study. Evidence suggests that this exchange was occurring as early as the year 2500 B.C.

Gold artifacts in Ireland dating up to 4,500 years ago were examined, utilizing a new technique. The analysis revealed that gold within some of the relics originated from lands now recognized as part of the UK, and were not from Ireland, as previously believed.

"This is an unexpected and particularly interesting result as it suggests that Bronze Age gold workers in Ireland were making artifacts out of material sourced from outside of the country, despite the existence of a number of easily accessible and rich gold deposits found locally," said Chris Standish, lead author of a study announcing the new finding.

Laser ablation mass spectrometry was utilized to examine 50 ancient gold artifacts. These items included necklaces, known as lunula, golden disks and basket ornaments. Analysis of the gold within the relics was compared to samples of the element taken from around Ireland and the UK. This research showed the material came from Cornwall, a ceremonial county far in the southwestern region of the United Kingdom.

Researchers believe that gold from Cornwell may have been prized by the people of Ireland due to its distant origin. People living on the Emerald Isle at the time were able to extract other metals from ore, and it seems likely that they would have been able to smelt gold as well, the researchers explained.

Many ancient cultures ascribed a religious significance to the metal, as opposed to the financial value most of us would recognize in the modern age. The first gold coins were not introduced as currency for another 2,000 years. Because religious beliefs varied between regions, gold would have held significantly more value in some areas, compared to other locales. This would have made importing and exporting gold worthwhile for ancient traders, and this point may be among the most important findings in this new study.

"Perhaps what is most interesting is that during this time, compared to Ireland, there appears to be much less gold circulating in Cornwall and southern Britain. This implies gold was leaving the region because those who found it felt it was of more value to trade it in for other 'desirable' goods — rather than keep it," Standish stated in a university press release.

The artifacts used in this study are housed in the collections of the National Museum of Ireland.

This study of gold trading among people living in the United Kingdom and Ireland was detailed in the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society.

Photo: James St. John | Flickr