WEEK 9 - Early Use of Metal Flashcards
How are human technological ages linked to geology?
- Major cultural revolutions often followed advancements in the use of geological materials.
Examples: Stone Age, Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age.
What role did metals originally play in human society?
- Many metals were first used for ornamental purposes, not technology.
- Used as artistic media before becoming part of tools or machinery.
Are precious and base metals both used ornamentally?
Yes, both types of metals were originally used for decoration or art.
Do technological “ages” start at the same time everywhere?
- No, each “age” began at different times depending on the region in the Old World.
- The dates we use are generally from the earlier side of the timeline.
What materials were used for tools before metals?
- People used rocks like obsidian, chert, and quartzite.
- These were sharp and useful for cutting and shaping.
How did Stone Age tools become more advanced over time?
- Started with simple cutting-edge tools.
- Then came tools with bifaced (sharpened on both sides) edges.
- Later, tools had maximized cutting surfaces.
- Eventually, people made advanced spear points.
When did humans start using metals in the Late Stone Age?
- People began using native metals like gold late in the Stone Age.
- Gold was discovered to be soft and malleable, making it easy to shape.
- Likely sourced from placer gold (gold found in river sediments).
Why was gold especially valued by early humans?
- Gold is rare, which made it precious.
- It does not rust or corrode, staying shiny and beautiful.
- Used for artistic and decorative purposes, not tools.
What metal marked the beginning of the Copper Age?
- Copper was the next metal widely used after gold.
- First used around 6,000 BCE, but became more common by 4,500 BCE.
- This period is known as the Copper Age.
How did early humans use copper?
- They used native copper (pure copper found in nature).
- It was cold-worked (shaped without heating) into tools and objects.
- Made delicate items like hooks and needles, which were hard to make from stone or bone.
Who used cold-worked copper tools in early times?
- Only the nobility could afford metal tools.
- These items were seen as luxuries.
- Many copper weapons were likely just for display, not for real use.
hat were the problems with cold-worked copper?
- Too soft: couldn’t hold a sharp edge for long.
- Brittle: could break easily, limiting its use in real tools or weapons.
What other native metals were used in the Copper Age?
Silver – found in native form (veins).
Iron-nickel alloy – came from meteorites (natural iron-nickel metal).
- Both silver and meteorite iron were very rare.
- This made them precious and likely used in small quantities.
How did heating improve copper tools?
- Annealing = heating copper to reduce weak spots.
- Made tools stronger and less likely to break.
- Was a big step up from just pounding cold copper.
Who used stronger copper tools?
- Still mostly status items for the wealthy.
Example: A well-crafted copper dagger from Bulgaria (4000–3500 BC).
What was the limitation of copper during the Copper Age?
- Native copper was rare, limiting its use.
- Other metals faced the same issue.
How was copper made more available during the Copper Age?
- Smelting: heating copper ores to separate the metal.
- This allowed for more copper to be extracted.
What was the first copper mineral likely used for smelting?
- Malachite: A copper mineral, with the chemical formula Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂.
- This was probably the first mineral used for smelting copper.
What are copper ores?
Copper ores are naturally occurring rocks or minerals from which copper can be extracted through mining and smelting processes.
What is Smelting?
Smelting is the process of extracting metal from its ore by heating it to high temperatures, typically with a reducing agent (like carbon).
How Did Smelting Begin?
- t’s believed that smelting was discovered intentionally, not by accident.
- Campfires weren’t hot enough to melt metals like copper (which melts at over 1000°C).
- Too much oxygen in campfires would cause metals to oxidize, turning them into brittle oxides.
What Metals Were Smelted First?
- Copper was one of the first metals to be smelted.
- Early copper ores used included malachite and chalcopyrite.
How Was Smelting Likely First Discovered?
- The first smelted ore was likely produced in a pottery kiln, not a campfire.
- Pottery kilns were used long before smelting began and could generate very high temperatures.
Why Were Pottery Kilns Suitable for Smelting?
- Pottery kilns prevented heat from escaping into the open air.
- Air could be forced into the kiln, increasing the temperature.
- These kilns could reach temperatures above 1,400°C, which is hot enough for smelting metals like copper.
