Making Copper: Processing in Early Bronze Age Arslantepe (VI B2)

Authors

  • Andreas Hauptmann Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum, Research department, Archaeometallurgy, House of Archaeologies, Am Bergbaumuseum 31, D-44791 Bochum
  • Nikolas Heil Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Institute of Archaeological Studies / Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum, Research department, Archaeometallurgy, House of Archaeologies, Am Bergbaumuseum 31, D-44791, Bochum
  • Gian Maria di Nocera Department of Humanities, Communication and Tourism (DISUCOM), University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università s.n.c. (loc. Riello), 01100-Viterbo
  • Thomas Stöllner Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Institute of Archaeological Studies / Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum, Research department, Mining Archaeology, House of Archaeologies, Am Bergbaumuseum 31, D-44791 Bochum

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46586/metalla.v26.2022.i2.113-140

Keywords:

Arslantepe VI B2, South-East Anatolia, Early Bronze Age, copper production, crucibles, slag petrology, partial smelting, “free silica slag”, lead isotope analyses

Abstract

This paper presents results of archaeometallurgical finds from Arslantepe VI B2 and observations and  geoscientific analyses of ores and ore deposits in East Anatolia which are connected with this site. Function and technology of Early Bronze Age crucible smelting in a small scale domestic mode of production are discussed. Ore and rock inclusions in slag and lead isotope analyses are consistent with the origins of various copper sources on the Black Sea coast in the north (Artvin/Murgul, Trabzon) and in the south (Ergani Maden, Upper Mesopotamia) and broadens the Early Bronze Age trade of the Kura Araxes cultural network. The petrology of slags also from Çayönü Tepesi and Nevali Çori shows their formation by partial (eutectic) smelting processes and the non-liquation of refractory materials. The model of deliberate fluxing in smelting copper is proven to be disputable. Smelting of copper was performed in portable crucibles of surprisingly large size with air supply from below.

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Published

2022-12-30

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Articles