Indigenous Mining and Metallurgy
The study of mining and metallurgy is essential to gain an understanding of Africa's rich history. Explore the secrets of Africa's forgotten technological past. From prospecting and mining to smelting and forging, discover the fascinating technologies used across the African continent over the last two and a half thousand years. Through visits to ancient mines and archaeological sites this book recaptures the ancient knowledge and technology used in indigenous mining and metallurgy. Experience the birth of African mining and the rise and fall of great African empires and societies, while uncovering the exciting discoveries of iron, copper and later tin, bronze and gold work across Africa. Trace the wealth and knowledge exchanged through trade, while investigating the the fascinating rituals, magic and taboos that played an important part in indigenous mining. And finally, learn how this rich history can be used today to generate income through tourism for local communities.
Explore the secrets of Africa's forgotten technological past. From prospecting and mining to smelting and forging, discover the fascinating technologies used across the African continent over the last two thousand years. Experience the birth of African mining and the rise and fall of great African empires and societies, while uncovering the exciting discoveries of iron, copper and later tin, bronze and gold work across Africa. Trace the wealth and knowledge exchanged through trade, while investigating the fascinating rituals that played an important part in indigenous mining. Lastly, explore how this rich history can generate income through tourism for local communities.
- The study of mining and metallurgy is essential to gain an understanding of Africa's rich history
- Explore the secrets of Africa's forgotten technological past. From prospecting and mining to smelting and forging, discover the fascinating technologies used across the African continent over the last two and a half thousand years
Table of Contents
- Part I. Beginnings: Indigenous Mining and Metallurgy: Introduction
- Aims and objectives
- Africa and the First World
- African achievements
- Origins of mining and metallurgy
- Metallurgical origins
- Archaeology and archaeometallurgy
- archaeology and history
- Evidence
- Radiocarbon dating
- Smelting and forging
- Importance of mining and metallurgy
- Rituals in mining and smelting
- Mining and metallurgy in the present
- Conclusion
- Part II. Prospecting and Mining: Finding and Extracting Ore: Introduction
- Pre-colonial mining
- Mining methods
- Prospecting
- Scavenging
- Panning
- Open mining
- Underground mining
- Milling and recovery
- Conclusion
- Part III. Smelting: Metal from Ore: Introduction
- Modern versus pre-colonial smelting
- Raw materials
- Types of bellows
- who used bellows?
- Iron smelting
- Copper smelting
- Working with gold
- Conclusion
- Part IV. Smithing Metal into Objects:
- Introduction
- Forging and casting
- Iron forging
- Copper smithing
- Copper casting
- Tin and bronze smithing
- Gold smithing
- Conclusion
- Part V. Impact: Indigenous Mining and Metallurgy: Introduction
- Impact of mining and metallurgy
- Trade
- Culture, gender and society
- Rituals and taboos
- conclusion
- Part VI. Future: Indigenous Mining and Metallurgy: Introduction
- Heritage
- What happened to indigenous methods?
- Present and future importance
- Benefits of indigenous mining and metallurgy
- Community benefits
- Indigenous mining and metallurgy in African history
- Conclusion
- Glossary
- Index
- Periodic table
- Map references
- Further reading
- Photo acknowledgements.
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