Perforated Furnace Metallurgy in the Final Neolithic Aegean. New Archaeological Evidence from the Acropolis of Athens and Preliminary Observations from other Contemporary Sites

Archaeological evidence from the Acropolis of Athens reveals the presence of a perforated chimney belonging to a shaft furnace used for metallurgical activities during the Final Neolithic period. This discovery, identified among ceramic fragments, suggests advanced metallurgy practices in the Aegean region around 4000–3500 BCE. The study re-evaluates earlier excavations and confirms the existence of such furnaces, raising questions about their prevalence at other contemporary sites like Ayios Dhimitrios and Sarakenos Cave. By analyzing settlement patterns alongside metallurgical artifacts, researchers aim to reconstruct Neolithic technological capabilities and trade networks in the region.

Dimitriou, V. E. (2022). Perforated Furnace Metallurgy in the Final Neolithic Aegean. New Archaeological Evidence from the Acropolis of Athens and Preliminary Observations from other Contemporary Sites. Sympozjum Egejskie, 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.wsa-eb.5.128949