[..] In contrast with the controversial evidence for Middle Neolithic axes, some
twenty copper and silver objects from Italy and Sardinia can be securely
assigned to the Late or Final Neolithic; these are all dated by radiocarbon or associated pottery [..]. (1)
[..] Copper and silver are the earliest worked metals in Sardinia: there is
evidence of their use from the first half of the 4th millennium BC, in the
sphere of the Ozieri facies of the Final NeoIithic. The use of gold is
represented by a solitary artefact belonging to the Late Eneolithic (Beaker)
period. Lead, however, appears roughly around the mid
3rd millennium BC.[..] Silver
represents approximately 22 % of artefacts recovered in
Sardinia from the Neolithic and Eneolithic periods; of these 4 % are
attributable to the first half of the 4th millennium BC and 8% to the second
half of the 4th millennium BC; the rest belong to the
3rd millennium BC. [..] (2).