Metal and Other Finds

Although there had been sporadic use of iron, it became much more common at the beginning of the Protogeometric period with the frequent and widespread use of iron technology. Both meteoritic and smelted iron were known during the Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean but they were used mostly for making precious objects, such as jewellery and ceremonial weapons. Archaeological and textual evidence shows that in the second millennium iron was a rare material associated with other luxurious items found in temples, palaces, and royal burials, while in the Late Bronze Age, and especially after the 1200 BCupheavals, iron started to be used slightly more frequently for the making of tools and weapons, although most of the objects made of iron were still luxurious personal ornaments.

Ancient history · Archaeology · Bronze · Geography · Iron Age · Metallurgy · Ornaments · Smelting · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Ancient Near East History · History · Materials Science · Metallurgy and Cultural Artifacts