An early task archaeologists are asked to perform is the identification of the metal, the process by which the object is produced and the utility of the object. The following section is intended to detail identification. Identify the following metals.

Go to the materials page.

Show box of objects: iron Copper silver gold tin lead brass bronze

• Wrought Iron: Hot hammered into form. No tempering or casting. Is more brittle than cast objects.
• Casting: The metal is transformed into a molten state and then cast in molds
• Lost Wax Casting: View the animation or the following link for a discussion of the lost wax method.
• Cold Hammering: The native, pure metal is hammered into shape without heating
• Evidence for the use of alloys

Access to metals varies. Early worked materials were often native metals (pure forms of the metal which could be found in nature). Over time it became necessary to extract metals for certain mineral compounds. The method is known as smelting, in which metalic ores are cooked in a reducing atmosphere. Whereas coppers can be transformed into its liquid form relatively easily, early iron could not.

• Evidence of a spongy bloom: (early Iron in impure form)
• Slag (the byproduct of iron smelting)
• Potential objects suggesting mining (lamps)
• Do you gain any insights into the nature of the society by determining the nature of the productive process?

• Nevada Mines
• Michigan Mines
• Add a smelting Page

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Send comments to zagarell@wmich.edu