Metals and Mines

Published in association with the British Museum this is a celebration of Paul Craddock’s four-decade contribution to the study of early metallurgy. Arising from the conference Metallurgy: A Touchstone for Cross-cultural Interaction, it focuses on mining and extractive technologies across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, China, and Britain. With contributions from leading international scholars, the book highlights the diversity of ancient smelting processes and the growing role of experimental replication in advancing our understanding of early metallurgical practices.

In the 30 years since the first British Museum volume dedicated to the scientific study of early metallurgy, there has been great progress in understanding the diversity of processes by which ores were mined and smelted as well as significant advances in the methods of study of these. In particular, the experimental replication of ancient processes has assumed ever greater importance. This volume arose from the conference Metallurgy: A Touchstone for Cross-cultural Interaction which took place at the British Museum to celebrate the enormous contribution to the study and understanding of metallurgy made by Paul Craddock during his 40 years at the Museum. The papers largely relate to mining and extractive metallurgy. The inception and nature of the first smelting technologies of copper and tin in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, and of zinc in China and iron in Africa, the Middle East and Britain are discussed together with insights into the archaeology and experimental replication of the processes. The authors are drawn from major institutions worldwide, reflecting the international interest the subject now commands. Published in association with the British Museum.

Preface and acknowledgements

Susan La Niece and Duncan Hook

Introduction: achievements and challenges

Paul Craddock

Mining and smelting

Chalcolithic copper smelting

David Bourgarit

Zambujal and the beginnings of metallurgy in southern Portugal

Roland Muller, Gert Goldenberg, Martin Bartelheim, Michael Kunst and Ernst Pernicka

The use of experimental archaeology/archaeometallurgy for the understanding and reconstruction of Early Bronze Age mining and smelting technologies

Simon Timberlake

On the Edge of success: the scientific examination of the products of the Early Mines Research Group smelting experiments

Paul Craddock, Nigel Meeks and Simon Timberlake

Towards a functional and typological classification of crucibles

Justine Bayley and Thilo Rehren

Records of palaeo-pollution from mining and metallurgy as recorded by three ombrotrophic peat bogs in Wales, UK

T.M. Mighall, Simon Timberlake, S. Singh and M. Bateman

Copper, tin and bronze

Prehistoric copper production at Timna: thermoluminescence (TL) dating and evidence from the East

Andreas Hauptmann and Irmtrud Wagner

On the origins of metallurgy in prehistoric Southeast Asia: the view from Thailand

Vincent C. Pigott and Roberto Ciarla

Coals to Newcastle, copper to Magan? Isotopic analyses and the Persian Gulf metals trade

Lloyd Weeks

The first use of metal on Minoan Crete

J.D. Muhly

Cross-cultural Minoan networks and the development of metallurgy in Bronze Age Crete

Noel H. Gale and Zofia Anna Stos-Gale

One hundred years on: what do we know about tin and bronze production in southern Africa?

Shadreck Chirikure, Simon Hall and Duncan Miller

Brass and zinc

Of brass and bronze in prehistoric Southwest Asia

Christopher P. Thornton

Brasses in the early metallurgy of the Iberian Peninsula

Ignacio Montero-Ruiz and Alicia Perea

The beginning of the use of brass in Europe with particular reference to the southeastern Alpine region

J. Istenic and z. A mit

Roman brass and lead ingots from the western Mediterranean

Gerd Weisgerber with contributions by Paul Craddock and Nigel Meeks, U. Baumer and J. Koller

Copper-based metal in the Inland Niger delta: metal and technology at the time of the Empire of Mali

Laurence Garenne-Marot and Benoit Mille

Preliminary multidisciplinary study of the Miaobeihou zinc-smelting ruins at Yangliusi village, Fengdu county, Chongqing

Liu Haiwang, Chen Jianli, Li Yanxiang, Bao Wenbo, Wu Xiaohong, Han Rubin, Sun Shuyun and Yuan Dongshan

The origin and invention of zinc-smelting technology in China

Zhou Weirong

Iron and steel

Slags and the city: early iron production at Tell Hammeh, Jordan and Tell Beth-Shemesh, Israel

Harald Alexander Veldhuijzen and Thilo Rehren

Innovations in bloomery smelting in Iron Age and Romano-British England

Sarah Paynter

Decisions set in slag: the human factor in African iron smelting

Thilo Rehren, Michael Charlton, Shadreck Chirikure, Jane Humphris, Akin Ige and Xander Veldhuijzen

The anatomy of a furnace ... and some of its ramifications

Peter Crew and Michael Charlton

Early Chinese ferrous swords from the British Museum collections

M.L. Wayman and C. Michaelson

Crucible steel in medieval swords

Alan Williams

Index,

Preface and acknowledgements

Susan La Niece and Duncan Hook

Introduction: achievements and challenges

Paul Craddock

Mining and smelting

Chalcolithic copper smelting

David Bourgarit

Zambujal and the beginnings of metallurgy in southern Portugal

Roland Müller, Gert Goldenberg, Martin Bartelheim, Michael Kunst and Ernst Pernicka

The use of experimental archaeology/archaeometallurgy for the understanding and reconstruction of Early Bronze Age mining and smelting technologies

Simon Timberlake

On the Edge of success: the scientific examination of the products of the Early Mines Research Group smelting experiments

Paul Craddock, Nigel Meeks and Simon Timberlake

Towards a functional and typological classification of crucibles

Justine Bayley and Thilo Rehren

Records of palaeo-pollution from mining and metallurgy as recorded by three ombrotrophic peat bogs in Wales, UK

T.M. Mighall, Simon Timberlake, S. Singh and M. Bateman

Copper, tin and bronze

Prehistoric copper production at Timna: thermoluminescence (TL) dating and evidence from the East

Andreas Hauptmann and Irmtrud Wagner

On the origins of metallurgy in prehistoric Southeast Asia: the view from Thailand

Vincent C. Pigott and Roberto Ciarla

Coals to Newcastle, copper to Magan? Isotopic analyses and the Persian Gulf metals trade

Lloyd Weeks

The first use of metal on Minoan Crete

J.D. Muhly

Cross-cultural Minoan networks and the development of metallurgy in Bronze Age Crete

Noel H. Gale and Zofia Anna Stos-Gale

One hundred years on: what do we know about tin and bronze production in southern Africa?

Shadreck Chirikure, Simon Hall and Duncan Miller

Brass and zinc

Of brass and bronze in prehistoric Southwest Asia

Christopher P. Thornton

Brasses in the early metallurgy of the Iberian Peninsula

Ignacio Montero-Ruiz and Alicia Perea

The beginning of the use of brass in Europe with particular reference to the southeastern Alpine region

J. Istenic and Ž. Å mit

Roman brass and lead ingots from the western Mediterranean

Gerd Weisgerber with contributions by Paul Craddock and Nigel Meeks, U. Baumer and J. Koller

Copper-based metal in the Inland Niger delta: metal and technology at the time of the Empire of Mali

Laurence Garenne-Marot and Benoît Mille

Preliminary multidisciplinary study of the Miaobeihou zinc-smelting ruins at Yangliusi village, Fengdu county, Chongqing

Liu Haiwang, Chen Jianli, Li Yanxiang, Bao Wenbo, Wu Xiaohong, Han Rubin, Sun Shuyun and Yuan Dongshan

The origin and invention of zinc-smelting technology in China

Zhou Weirong

Iron and steel

Slags and the city: early iron production at Tell Hammeh, Jordan and Tell Beth-Shemesh, Israel

Harald Alexander Veldhuijzen and Thilo Rehren

Innovations in bloomery smelting in Iron Age and Romano-British England

Sarah Paynter

Decisions set in slag: the human factor in African iron smelting

Thilo Rehren, Michael Charlton, Shadreck Chirikure, Jane Humphris, Akin Ige and Xander Veldhuijzen

The anatomy of a furnace ... and some of its ramifications

Peter Crew and Michael Charlton

Early Chinese ferrous swords from the British Museum collections

M.L. Wayman and C. Michaelson

Crucible steel in medieval swords

Alan Williams

Index

• Edited by Susan La Niece
• Edited by Duncan Hook
• Edited by Paul T. Craddock

"...I would recommend this book as a single source for a conservator interested in following recent research in archaeometallurgy." ICON News (May 2008) 33 "This is a premier collection of leading researchers, an excellent advertisement for the field of archaeometallurgy, and a worthy tribute to Paul Craddock. The expertise of the authors is complemented by the extremely high standard of design and typography by Archetype Publications, with high-resolution colour printing throughout." Journal of Archaeological Science 35 (2008) 3044-3046
—