Archaeologists using advanced trace-element analysis have identified a previously unknown trade network dubbed the 'Obsidian and Malachite' link. The research reveals that high-quality volcanic glass from the Caucasus mountains was systematically exchanged for copper-rich malachite from the Anatolian Plateau as early as 2,500 BCE.
The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, suggests that these two regions were connected by a sophisticated relay system of nomadic pastoralists. This discovery provides new insights into how early Bronze Age societies managed luxury resource scarcity and established long-distance diplomatic ties across diverse geographical barriers.