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Bronze and Iron Metal
By far the preferred metal used in ancient times was bronze. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, about nine-to-one ratio. As noted, copper itself is quite a soft metal, and only marginally useful for tools, but the introduction of tin increases its hardness as well as making casting easier. Copper was worked as a metal up until about 6000-5000 BC
The Bronze age time frame was generally considered to be around 3500-1200 BC however the Romans and other ancient cultures continued the extensive use of bronze for decoration and functional applications. Belt buckles, armor decoration jewellery, etc.
Because of its high copper content, bronze, normally reddish in color, gradually develops a blue-green or grey patina as the surface interacts with oxygen and other elements in the air. The unstable patina can often be rubbed off producing an uneven surface.
Lead Bronze
Mixing lead into the copper-tin alloy produces "lead bronze," which may contain as much as 10% lead. The lead in the alloy does not become part of its crystalline structure; this alloy mixture was only used for casting, particularly the casting of finely detailed artistic objects.
"Bronze Age" refers to those periods around the world in which bronze was in general use. The Bronze Age in any given place is considered to have come to an end when the beginning of the Iron Age.
Iron is one of the commonest (and cheapest) metallic elements on the planet. In fact, by weight it makes up about 5% of the planet's crust.
About 1200 BC iron was starting to be used for tools and weapons. The biggest problem to overcome for the ancients was the melting point of iron ore. The temperatures needed to process the ore exceeded what most ancient kilns were able to reach. Pure iron has a melting point of 1,535°C. The limit of an ancient furnace was about 1,150°C. (By contrast, copper has a melting point of 1,083°C, It was eventually discovered that the introduction of three to four percent carbon to the mixture could sometimes lower the melting temperature (ultimately to as low as about 1,150°, hence just at the furnace limit).
"Iron Age" is given to those periods around the world in which iron came into general use. The earliest iron production is about 2000 BC (in Turkey).
Lead is the final stage of radioactive decay of some unstable metals, such as uranium or radium.
Dull gray in color, lead is soft and has a low melting point and is a good metal for casting artefacts at comparatively low temperatures. Archaeologists often find lead artefacts from early times.
Lead is a toxin, which builds up gradually in the body until it hits a threshold amount and begins to produce severe symptoms; The Romans used lead in a number of manufactured products. Wine storage containers, face makeup, lead pipes for distributing water to mention just a few.