Metal in Bronze and Iron Age Greece 2800-AOBRO
The importance of metals to past societies has been recognised within archaeology ever since the Three-Age
classificatory system (Stone-Bronze-Iron) was put forward by Thomsen in the nineteenth century, to act as an
overarching framework for technological progress and, by extension, the socio-economic standing of a specific culture.
Prominent archaeologists, such as Gordon Childe, used developments in metal technology as an explanatory factor for
social change to create grand narratives for European Prehistory, such as the ‘democratising’ effect of moving from
bronze to iron. In Aegean Archaeology, it has taken a long time for scholars to move beyond and, in some cases,
challenge such generalisations to study the specific trajectory of metalworking in Greece and the unique contribution it
made to the emergence of well-known cultural groupings and phenomena during the Bronze and Iron Ages. The course
will begin with a basic overview of some of the most important principles of archaeometallurgy, including how metals
can be extracted and used, the ways in which the development of traditional and scientific forms of archaeological
analysis has both driven and answered our research questions, and the especial difficulties scholars face when studying
ancient metals. The course will then chronologically follow the role of metals in Bronze and Iron Age societies within
present-day Greece, discussing in particular the presumed connections between technology and the emergence of social
stratification, the creation of new forms of material culture and how metals became integrated into almost every aspect
of daily life.
This course will be delivered through a mixture of short lectures and interactive sessions. Students will be expected to
undertake a range of informal and formal activities both as an individual and in small group settings, which will include
discussions and presentations of data, scholarly interpretations and their own opinions. This will entail a limited
quantity of preparatory work outside of classes such as reading and designing presentations. Together with the formal
classes the total time required for this course is 45 hours.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The student:
K_W02 ~ knows detailed concepts and terminology used in Aegean Archaeology and archaeometallurgy
K_W03 ~ has extended knowledge of the description, analysis and interpretation of archaeological sources related to
the Aegean Bronze and Iron Ages
K_W04 ~ has an ordered and theoretically based knowledge covering the key issues of archaeometallurgy, including
terminology, theories and methodology
K_W06 ~ has detailed, specialist knowledge of the use of metal in Bronze and Iron Age Aegean societies, including
terminology, theories and methodology in the field of archaeology
K_W12 ~ knows and understands advanced methods of analysis and interpretation of research problems in the field of
Aegean Archaeology, appropriate for the traditions, theories and research schools related to the investigation of metals
K_W13 ~ knows and understands advanced methods for the analysis and interpretation of information contained in
scientific publications concerning archaeometallurgy and Aegean Archaeology
The student can:
K_U02 ~ identify, analyse, use, classify and interpret archaeological sources concerning metals and Aegean
Archaeology, by selecting appropriate analytical methods, making a critical analysis and creating an interpretation in
English
K_U03 ~ creatively use existing methods and techniques, adapting them to the needs arising from the specific research
issues related to the use of metal in Bronze and Iron Age Aegean societies
K_U05 ~ independently formulate conclusions, argue and create synthetic summaries in English about the use of metal
in Bronze and Iron Age Aegean societies whilst taking into account different views
K_U12 ~ present research results in the form of oral presentations in English, using specialised scientific language and
terminology appropriate for archaeometallurgy and Aegean Archaeology, with the use of information and
communication technologies
K_U13 ~ use a foreign language at the B2 + level of the European System for the Description of Language Education
and specialized terminology in the field of Aegean Archaeology and archaeometallurgy
K_U15 ~ cooperate with other people as part of an interdisciplinary team
The student is ready to:
K_K01 ~ use their knowledge and skills and is aware of the need to challenge themselves through the opinions of
experts
K_K02 ~ recognise the significant importance of artefacts, eco-facts and written sources from the Aegean Bronze and
Iron Ages as elements of the cultural heritage of humanity
K_K03 ~assess the unique value of archaeological sources and their role in recreating the human past
K_K04 ~ critically evaluate the interpretation of archaeological sources with awareness of multi-faceted interpretation
K_K05 ~ use their knowledge of the complex nature of culture and analyse various categories of sources to recreate the
human past
Assessment criteria
The performance of the students will be monitored throughout the course, and the quality of their contributions via
discussion and presentations will be assessed against the learning outcomes listed above. Of particular importance will
be their ability to engage with the major research questions concerning the exploitation of metals in Aegean Bronze and
Iron Age societies, to demonstrate a firm grasp of the relevant archaeological evidence, to understand the specific
challenges for the study of metals, to critically evaluate the interpretations of others and to construct and disseminate a
coherent argument that shows some element of original thinking.
Bibliography
Useful volumes:
Heymans, E.D. 2021. The Origins of Money in the Iron Age Mediterranean World (Cambridge).
Panagiotaki, M., I. Tomazos and F. Papadimitrakopoulos (eds) Cutting-Edge Technologies in Ancient Greece: Materials
Science applied to trace Ancient Technologies in the Aegean World. Proceedings of Two Conferences held in Rhodes,
12–14 January 2018 and 11–13 January 2019 (Oxford and Philadelphia).
Tzachili, I. (ed.) (2008) Aegean Metallurgy in the Bronze Age. Proceedings of an International Symposium held at the
University of Crete, Rethymnon, Greece, on November 19–21, 2004 (Athens).
Kassianidou, V. and G. Papasavvas (eds) Eastern Mediterranean Metallurgy and Metalwork in the Second Millennium
BC: a Conference in Honour of James D. Muhly, Nicosia, 10th–11th October 2009 (Oxford and Oakville).
Selected Papers:
Asderaki-Tzoumerkioti, E., Rehren, Th., Skafida, E., Vaxevanopoulos, M. and Connolly, P.J. (2018) ‘Kastro Palaia
settlement, Volos, Greece: a diachronical technological approach to bronze metalwork’, STAR: Science and Technology
of Archaeological Research 3(2), 179–93.
Blackwell, N. 2020. ‘Tools’, in I. Lemos and A. Kotsonas (eds) A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and
the Mediterranean (Hoboken, NJ), 532–37.
Konstantinidi-Syvridi, E. 2020. ‘Jewelry’, in I. Lemos and A. Kotsonas (eds) A Companion to the Archaeology of Early
Greece and the Mediterranean (Hoboken, NJ), 603–26.
Lowe Fri, M. (2014) ‘To Use or Not to Use a Minoan Chisel? Ancient Technology in a New Light’, EXARC,
https://exarc.net/ark:/88735/10158
Legarra Herrero, B. and Martinón-Torres, M. (2021) ‘Heterogeneous production and enchained consumption: Minoan
gold in a changing world (ca. 2000 BCE)’, American Journal of Archaeology 125(3), 333–60
Lloyd, M. 2020. ‘Weapons’, in I. Lemos and A. Kotsonas (eds) A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and
the Mediterranean (Hoboken, NJ), 499–521.
Mina, M. (2018) ‘Casting doubts on metallurgy and the transition to social complexity: the evidence from the Aegean’,
in S. Dietz, F. Mavridis, Ž. Tankosić and T. Takaoğlu (eds), Communities in Transition: the Circum-Aegean Area during
the 5th and 4th Millennia BC (Oxford and Philadelphia), 67–74.
Matthäus, H. and C. Vonhoff. 2020. ‘Bronze Vessels’, in I. Lemos and A. Kotsonas (eds) A Companion to the
Archaeology of Early Greece and the Mediterranean (Hoboken, NJ), 471–97.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: