archaeometallurgy

Archaeometallurgy is the study of the past use and production of metals by humans. It is a sub-discipline of archaeology and archaeological science that examines the relationship between human societies and metallurgical technologies throughout history.

The field encompasses several specializations, including metallography of finished objects, mineralogy of waste products such as slag, and manufacturing studies. Through chemical and anthropological analysis, archaeometallurgy provides valuable insights into archaeological questions ranging from technological choices to social organization, contributing to our understanding of how ancient societies extracted, processed, and utilized metals.