The earliest evidence of humans using metals occurs was found in the ancient city of Catal Huyuk, (modern day Turkey) and dates back to about 6000 B.C. [1] The metal that humans used was copper and it was used for decorative purposes as beads on a piece of clothing. Copper was the first metal to be used by humans because it is found in a wide variety of places and was very malleable.
Metallurgy did not originate in just one part of the world and then spread to the rest of humanity. Archaeologists believe most cultures dabbled in metallurgy, and the reason for certain cultures being ahead or behind others has to do with how accessible these metals were. The oldest copper-smelting furnace was discovered in 1982, at the Timna Valley, which is near the port of Eilat, which is on the Sinai.[2] This copper-smelting furnace dates back to about 3500 B.C.[2]
[1] Raymond, Robert. 1986 Out of the Fiery Furnace. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press. (p. 8)
[2] Ibid., 18.
Written by Alex Boyce, 2003