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The Early Iron Age Metal Workshop at Tell Tayinat, Turkey

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Abstract

Scholars have tried to link the dramatic rise of iron production in the Near East during the Early Iron Age with changes to the political landscape that occurred at the end of the Late Bronze Age. These attempts have been hindered by a lack of excavated iron production contexts dating to the Early Iron Age. The recent discovery of an Early Iron Age metal workshop at the site of Tell Tayinat, Turkey, provides an opportunity to reexamine some previous assumptions. Preliminary chemical analysis of metal and slag samples indicates that during the 12th century BC iron- and bronze-working were not separate, specialized industries. Instead, production of both materials took place within the same workshop context. Furthermore, this work highlights the importance of prestige goods in the Early Iron Age repertoire.

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Roames, J. The Early Iron Age Metal Workshop at Tell Tayinat, Turkey. MRS Online Proceedings Library 1319, 908 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1557/opl.2011.741

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/opl.2011.741

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