Metalworkers and smelting precincts : technological reconstructions of second millennium copper production around Phalaborwa, Northern Lowveld of South Africa
This thesis examines metal production debris with the aim of reconstructing extractive metal technologies employed around Phalaborwa during the second millennium AD. Mining and metallurgy were previously identified as exclusive pulling factors for Iron Age human settlement in this agropastoral marginal area. Several Iron Age settlements with extensive metal production evidence were previously documented. This thesis places emphasis on extractive copper metallurgy previously neglected for several reasons. The early second millennium AD site of Shankare is used as the main case study. Whilst previously excavated metallurgical assemblages from late second millennium AD sites are re-investigated to explore diachronic changes in smelting technologies. The thesis is inspired by contemporary theoretical developments by the Francophone school of thought known as the âAnthropology of Technologyâ. Standard archaeological fieldwork procedures together with post-fieldwork laboratory studies were employed. Separation of copper from iron production debris visually was impossible but a combination of field observations and archaeometric approaches offered the answer. Archaeological ores, slags, technical ceramics and
Thondhlana, T. P.
Metalworkers and smelting precincts : technological reconstructions of second millennium copper production around Phalaborwa, Northern Lowveld of South Africa. This thesis examines metal production debris with the aim of reconstructing extractive metal technologies employed around Phalaborwa during the second millennium AD. Mining and metallurgy were previously identified as exclusive pulling factors for Iron Age human settlement in this agropastoral marginal area. Several Iron Age settlements with extensive metal production evidence were previously documented. This thesis places emphasis on extractive copper metallurgy previously neglected for several reasons. The early second millennium AD site of Shankare is used as the main case study. Whilst previously excavated metallurgical assemblages from late second millennium AD sites are re-investigated to explore diachronic changes in smelting technologies. The thesis is inspired by contemporary theoretical developments by the Francophone school of thought known as the âAnthropology of Technologyâ. Standard archaeological fieldwork procedures together with post-fieldwork laboratory studies were employed. Separation of copper from iron production debris visually was impossible but a combination of field observations and archaeometric approaches offered the answer. Archaeological ores, slags, technical ceramics and
smelt precinct technological reconstruction second_millennium copper_production around northern south_africa examine metal_production debris aim_reconstruct extractive metal technology_employ around second_millennium mining metallurgy previously_identify exclusive pull factor iron_age human_settlement marginal_area several iron_age_settlement extensive metal_production evidence previously document place_emphasis extractive copper metallurgy previously_neglect several reason site use main case_study whilst previously_excavate metallurgical assemblage late second_millennium sit investigated explore diachronic_change smelt technology inspired contemporary theoretical development francophone school_think know anthropology technology standard archaeological_fieldwork procedure together post fieldwork laboratory study employ separation copper iron_production debris visually impossible combination field_observation archaeometric approach offer answer archaeological ore_slag technical_ceramic