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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Martin OdlerORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Copper played a central role in the material culture of ancient Egypt. Appearing in the archaeological record as early as the fourth millennium BCE, copper and copper alloys were the most widely used metals throughout pharaonic history. Significant copper ore deposits, such as those of the Eastern Desert and Sinai, were located in proximity to the Nile Valley and were usually mined through large state-organized expeditions. In addition to textual and iconographic evidence, copper alloy objects constitute a valuable source for our understanding of the procurement, use, and circulation of goods within ancient Egyptian society. With the advancement of scientific methods their analysis has become part of the wider development of archaeometallurgy, which aims to shed light on the entire production chain of metals in their historical and social contexts. Indeed, Egyptology, archaeology, and archaeometallurgy are complementary and can benefit from the same research questions.
Author(s): Rademakers F, Odler M, Auenmueller J
Series Editor(s): Hodgkinson, A; Wendrich, W;
Publication type: Online Publication
Publication status: Published
Edition: 1
Series Title: UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology
Year: 2024
Access Year: 2024
Description: 51 p., 15 figs
Acceptance date: 01/09/2024
ISSN (electronic): 2693-7425
Publisher: UCLA
Place Published: Los Angeles, California
URL: https://doi.org/10.5070/G9.4307
DOI: 10.5070/G9.4307
