Beyond the crucible : an integrated approach to primary copper production in the Early Bronze Age
Primary evidence for copper smelting remains vastly underrepresented in the British Bronze Age. The analysis of recovered copper and copper alloy objects has built a database of metal types and isotopic signatures, but has been unable to penetrate the archaeological record to pinpoint the contexts of primary production. This thesis is an exploration of the context of primary copper production in the Early Bronze Age in Britain. The reduction of mineral ore to copper metal may occur within a furnace or crucible, but primary metallurgy is more than a chemical process; it is a social practice that is embedded in the landscape. As such, metallurgy draws together skilled individuals and chosen resources at specific locations and a certain times. Recognizing the spatiality of metallurgical processes opens up new opportunities for archaeological investigation and new ways of addressing longstanding problems in the study of British metallurgy. The methodology discussed within this thesis utilizes a combination of visual, geochemical, and geophysical survey within the hinterland of an identified Early Bronze Age mineral extraction site. The methodology is examined using a case study. Ecton in North Staffordshire has
Eldridge, Ryan
Beyond the crucible : an integrated approach to primary copper production in the Early Bronze Age. Primary evidence for copper smelting remains vastly underrepresented in the British Bronze Age. The analysis of recovered copper and copper alloy objects has built a database of metal types and isotopic signatures, but has been unable to penetrate the archaeological record to pinpoint the contexts of primary production. This thesis is an exploration of the context of primary copper production in the Early Bronze Age in Britain. The reduction of mineral ore to copper metal may occur within a furnace or crucible, but primary metallurgy is more than a chemical process; it is a social practice that is embedded in the landscape. As such, metallurgy draws together skilled individuals and chosen resources at specific locations and a certain times. Recognizing the spatiality of metallurgical processes opens up new opportunities for archaeological investigation and new ways of addressing longstanding problems in the study of British metallurgy. The methodology discussed within this thesis utilizes a combination of visual, geochemical, and geophysical survey within the hinterland of an identified Early Bronze Age mineral extraction site. The methodology is examined using a case study. Ecton in North Staffordshire has
beyond crucible integrated primary copper_production early_bronze_age primary evidence copper_smelting remain vastly underrepresented british bronze_age analysis recover copper_copper alloy object build database metal type isotopic signature unable penetrate archaeological_record pinpoint context primary production exploration context primary copper_production early_bronze_age britain reduction mineral ore copper metal may_occur within furnace crucible primary metallurgy chemical process social_practice embed landscape metallurgy draw_together skilled individual chosen resource specific location certain time metallurgical process open_new opportunity archaeological_investigation new_way address longstanding problem study british metallurgy discuss within utilizes combination visual geochemical geophysical_survey within hinterland identify early_bronze_age mineral extraction site examine use case_study north staffordshire