First evidence for alloying practices in the Chalcolithic Southern Levant (4500–3800 BCE) as revealed by metallography

Abstract Excavations at the Chalcolithic site Fazael in central Jordan Valley uncovered a large number of metal items, many them polymetallic copper alloys cast lost wax technique. Metallography and SEM–EDS analysis on subset assemblage confirm previous notions metallurgy Southern Levant but extend significantly three aspects: The is slightly depleted its arsenic content compared to assemblages from other sites, silt-sized quartz inclusions unalloyed presence inclusions. These latter provide earliest direct evidence for mixing different types West Asia, potentially alloying or recycling.