Ancient smelting

Ancient smelting was a process used to extract metal from its ore by heating it at high temperatures. Early cultures, like those in the Bronze Age, heated rocks containing metal compounds in furnaces, causing chemical changes that separated the metal from impurities. This involved increasing temperatures with fire and often adding materials like charcoal or other reducing agents to help remove oxygen from the ore. The result was raw metal, which could then be shaped into tools, weapons, or ornaments. Smelting was a significant technological advancement that enabled societies to develop more durable and versatile metal objects.