Out of the Fiery Crucible: Egyptian Old Kingdom metallurgy

Abstract

The evidence for Egyptian Old Kingdom metalworking is reviewed drawing upon archaeology, iconography, metallurgy, history, scientific data and process replication. The charateristics of arsenical copper is considered concluding that Old Kingdom copper ore was initially obtained from the southern Eastern Desert of Egypt where Pre- and Early Dynastic mines are to be found and where there may have been mining and metallurgical expertise amongst the regional nomadic people or further south in Africa. Chaîne opératoires are proposed for the fabrication of prestige copper vessels and for the production copper tools.