Rethinking the bronze-iron transition in Iran : copper and iron metallurgy before the Achaemenid Period
Iran, a country rich in mineral resources, has a long history of metal working. Copper objects first appeared in the 7th millennium BC and in the following millennia, copper became the material of choice for the production of many objects. Artefacts of iron began to appear in the mid 2nd millennium BC and by the mid 1st, iron had replaced bronze for most uses, but the reasons for this change remain unclear. This thesis seeks to examine the transition from bronze to iron metallurgy from a new angle. By looking at changes in copper-based metallurgy between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, it attempts to better understand the context in which iron metallurgy developed. To that end, the results of previously published chemical analyses of over 5000 copper-based objects from Iran and neighbouring regions and the lead isotope analyses of about 380 objects were assembled in a database. The tin, arsenic, nickel, antimony and silver concentrations in particular are studied. The data is divided into 16 metal groups based on the absence or presence of the latter four elements. The study of the main groups allows us to describe interesting new patterns of metal movement and recycling. It appears that before the end of
CueÂŽnod, AureÂŽlie
Archeology ; Materials studies (archaeology) ; Materials archaeology ; archaeometallurgy ; Iran ; copper ; iron
Rethinking the bronze-iron transition in Iran : copper and iron metallurgy before the Achaemenid Period. Iran, a country rich in mineral resources, has a long history of metal working. Copper objects first appeared in the 7th millennium BC and in the following millennia, copper became the material of choice for the production of many objects. Artefacts of iron began to appear in the mid 2nd millennium BC and by the mid 1st, iron had replaced bronze for most uses, but the reasons for this change remain unclear. This thesis seeks to examine the transition from bronze to iron metallurgy from a new angle. By looking at changes in copper-based metallurgy between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, it attempts to better understand the context in which iron metallurgy developed. To that end, the results of previously published chemical analyses of over 5000 copper-based objects from Iran and neighbouring regions and the lead isotope analyses of about 380 objects were assembled in a database. The tin, arsenic, nickel, antimony and silver concentrations in particular are studied. The data is divided into 16 metal groups based on the absence or presence of the latter four elements. The study of the main groups allows us to describe interesting new patterns of metal movement and recycling. It appears that before the end of
rethinking bronze_iron transition iran copper iron metallurgy achaemenid period iran country rich mineral resource long_history metal_work copper object first appear millennium follow millennium copper become material choice production many object artefacts iron begin appear iron replace bronze reason change remain unclear seek_examine transition bronze_iron metallurgy new_angle look change copper_based metallurgy bronze_age_iron_age attempt well context iron metallurgy develop end previously_publish chemical_analysis copper_based object iran neighbour_region lead_isotope analyse object database tin silver concentration particular study data divide metal group base absence presence latter four_element study main group allow describe interesting new pattern metal movement appear end