Archaeology Datasheet 202
Copper: smelting and production of alloys
Copper (Cu) is a soft, reddish metal which has been used for the production of a wide range of artefacts. Since the end of the Bronze Age it has been used primarily in the manufacture of decorative objects. Copper is obtained by smelting suitable ores and is most commonly used in the form of alloys; that is, other pure metals are added to produce new metals with different properties.
This datasheet includes details on ore sources and mines, smelting and copper alloy types.