The Dawn of Metallurgy at Chalcolithic Arslantepe: Metal Finds and Other Metallurgical Remains from Level VII

Archaeometallurgical analysis at Arslantepe (Malatya, Turkey) reveals the earliest evidence of sophisticated metalworking during the Late Chalcolithic period (3900-3400 BC), challenging assumptions about the timeline of metallurgy's emergence. The study identified distinct copper, arsenic-copper, and arsenic-nickel copper alloys, alongside lead slags suggesting silver extraction, through trace element and lead isotope analysis. These findings, compared with earlier (Level VIII) and later (Levels VI A, B) periods, indicate diverse raw material sources and trade networks, supported by slag texture and phase content reconstructions. The research sheds light on the complex metallurgical practices of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering insights into early technological innovation in the Near East.

Heil, N., Hauptmann, A., Di Nocera, G. M., & Stöllner, T. (2022). The Dawn of Metallurgy at Chalcolithic Arslantepe: Metal Finds and Other Metallurgical Remains from Level VII. Metalla, 26(2), 87–112. https://doi.org/10.46586/metalla.v26.2022.i2.87-112