Specialisations within archaeometallurgy include

Specialisations within archaeometallurgy include Metallography (the study of the physical structure of
metals) and Mineralogy (the study of minerals) (Renfrew and Bahn 2008: 347).
6.1 Archaeometallurgy: a case study
Metallographic examination is one of the most useful techniques when it comes to the study of early
metallurgy. Microscopic examination of metal structures can offer a wealth of information as illustrated in
Figure 9 (Renfrew & Bahn 2008: 347).
Figure 9: Microscopic images of metal structures.
Taken from: Renfrew, C. & Bahn, P. 2008. Archaeology: theories, methods and practice. 5th ed. New York: Thames &
Hudson. Pp. 347.
(D. Brothwell and E. Higgs, Science in Archaeology, 1969, pls. XXV and XXVI, reprinted in Archaeology:
Theories,
Methods and Practice by Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn, Thames & Hudson Ltd., London. Pp. 347)

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A copper bead from Tepe Ali Kosh (Iran), dating to 7 000 BC, was analysed through this method. It was
found that “the naturally occurring lump of copper had been cold -hammered into a sheet, then cut with a
chisel and rolled to form the bead” (Renfrew & Bahn 2008: 348).
7. Conclusion
Archaeology is one of the few fields of study that belongs to both the humanities and the natural sciences,
and it incorporates a large variety of subjects. Only by drawing on and incorporating these various subjects
can archaeologists truly come close to accurately reconstructing past life ways.

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8. Reference list
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Renfrew, C. & Bahn, P. 2008. Archaeology: theories, methods and practice . 5th ed. New York:
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