Nickel

The MMP analytical program has identified 26 Kish copper-based artifacts with a significant nickel content (Ni, >0.5%), all of them from the site’s ED III/Akk phase.

ED I: 
Range: <0.012%–0.44% (n=13) 
Mean: 0.059% ± 0.010% (1 standard error) 
Highest Ni-level: Saw (inv. FM158 103)

ED III/Akk: 
Range: <0.012%–3.2% (n=43) 
Mean: 0.63% ± 0.13% (1 standard error) 
Highest Ni-level: Toggle pin (inv. FM236 154)

This frequent occurrence of nickel among Kish bronzes is paralleled by data for Ur (see Ur). During the ED III and Akkadian periods, the southern Mesopotamian metalworking craft is thought to imported nickel-rich copper ingots from Oman (Berthoud et al. 1980).