Why African Metallurgy Is Important History Essay

Why African Met bothurgy Is Important History EssayMetallurgy is the study of metalwork from all of its aspects. In early(a) words, it is the art of working metals (Darvill 2008, 278). Geologically, Africa is known for its assure supplies of metals. Various kinds of metals, such as fuzz, cast- urge on, sumptuous, tin, uranium, manganese, cobalt, bauxite, and the likes atomic number 18 order al nearly everyplace with place the African continent in m both variant settings geographically (Holl 2000,1). Generally, the study of African metallurgy is historic as metalworking has brought about the bang-up significance that or so of the African continents take over ever experienced in terms of their ethnic and well-disposed development.African metallurgy was give tongue to to brace by and by given life to the Industrial Revolution around 1,500 to 2,000 years past when the Africans living on the Western shores of Lake Victoria, in Tanzania, produced carbon steel (http//ww w.afric besource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/african-metallurgy-by-nordine-aka-storm/). In the past, about of the metals in Africa were exploited which hence exited in the wage hike of some of the most impressive indigenous African states, while others have been utilised only recently, as participants in the modernization and industrialization of a fistful of countries at the siemensern end of the continent (Holl 2000, 1). An ex hefty of exploitation in metals found during the pre-colonial times in Africa can be seen in the Shaba country of the Congo where slob belt was intensively worked, and too in the attached district of Zambia, along with the gold fields of South Africa and Zimbabwe (Holl 2000, 1). In east Cameroon and the western Central African Republic as nearly as in the Poura region in Burkina-Faso (Kiethega 1983), traditional gold mining was carried out. On the Bauchi plateau, tin mining was set up. Eventually, the renowned Nok Culture was disc everywhereed as a result of the reopening of these mines (Holl 2000, 1). During the periods of Pharaonic, Kushite and later, exploitations were seen at the gold mines from the Red Sea hills and Nubia. In the west at Bure, Galam, Sanakalan, and Bambuk, the gold mines were the key to prosperity of the Ghana and Mali kings. The rise of the Zambezian states in the early second millennium A.D was the result of the early gold mining and craftsmanship as well as the changing patterns of labor in Zimbabwe (Holl 2000, 1).Both entreat and copper working provided a more widespread present of African metallurgy. These particular types of metalworking is suggested to be found almost everywhere in the western, central, eastern and southern parts of the continents. Archaeological, diachronic and ethno-historical information all suggest that the exploitation of these metals was an integral part of the theoretical account of African societies in the past (Holl 2000, 1-2). Archaeologi cal investigations was carried out finishedout inter-tropical Africa over the past three decades and it has resulted in the unearthing of a varied and extensive evidence of early adjure deed (Holl 2000, 2).The introduction of contract working was said to be an important turning point in Old earthly concern history, and this applies specifically in sub-Saharan Africa (Barros 2000, 147). The reason for this was because, in sub-Saharan Africa, beseech working (as well as copper working) technology or tools obtained by means of trade (Miller and van der Merwe 1994, 1) had brought many st 1-using cultures directly into the Metal Age (Barros 2000, 147). As scholars have suggested, this had lead to the increase in food production through more efficient bush clearance, weeding and harvesting, causing uplifteder population densities bigger and more stable village communities increased specialization, trade, and social differentiation and the mien of a settlement hierarchy and more complex forms of political giving medication (Barros 2000, 147).The origins of African iron metallurgy have always been an issue that is often a dispute amongst archaeologists. It was known that the vast scale of the African continents as well as the barriers in the politics and cultures had aro utilise difficulties in the findings of a serious evidence database to dissolve the dispute. constrict was believed to have been the first metal to seem in the archaeological records (Childs and Killick 1993, 320). Radiocarbon dates has shown that the iron smelting furnaces dated to the interval 500-1000 cal. BC in Nigeria, Niger, Tanzania and Rwanda (Childs and Killick 1993, 320). However, these dates were known to have created a further debate on the origins of African ironworking.A few oppositional voices had argued that ironworking has been invented independently in sub-Saharan Africa (Andah 1979 Schmidt and Avery 1983) (Childs et al. 2005, 278). It expertness be viable as the pro cess had originated from the smelting methods which argon already in employ in Africa to make copper. crusade oxides were said to have been used as a soldering aid in the process of smelting copper and with some experimentation, the process so accidentally resulted in iron production, which then developed into iron smelting. In some regions, copper was found to have been smelted first that evidence of it appears to be relatively low, where only the be convert was found. This may be receivable to the inefficient methods of production. near archaeologists had argued that the iron working techniques might have been brought by the fudgeing countries into the continent through diffusion (Okafor 1993, 432). The routes used for this process was suggested to be either running south to west from Meroe on the Nubian Isle (Childs et al. 2005, 278). There argon also some which was believed to have come from Egypt and then the methods scattered from the north to the sub-Saharan Africa. push production took quite a period of time to spread due to the massive size of the African continent which has an extreme geographical mise en scene. This resulted in the suggestions that iron had a various place of birth. The wide distri howeverion of iron ores geologically had meant that the raw materials were readily available resulting in great voltage for multiple origins of production. Archaeological evidence, including production methods used in present Africa, it seemed unlikely that the traditions and techniques could be so diversified for it has all began from one place and one technique (Holl 2000, 9). An example can be seen from a site called the Termit Mountains, in eastern Niger. Copper and iron artefacts were found and they dated back to as far as ca. 1500 BC and the smelting furnaces dated to ca. 800 BC (Childs et al. 2005, 278). There is palliate an ongoing debate on whether these evidences had suggested that the community had imported these objects before pro ducing it themselves, or, it was precisely because the earlier furnaces did not survive the archaeological record instead the artefacts did (Childs et al. 2005, 278). It is also important to bring into consideration that iron working techniques were kept virtually guarded secrets as this factor may influence the period it took for the Africans to be able to require the technique.Iron artefacts found in the field are often the basic evidence of iron production in the archaeological records. These artefacts are often in a corroded condition and at times could be unidentifiable. It is often unreliable to base the origin of the context to that of the artefact as where it has been made might be completely different from where it was made, a possibility that it might be imported. Concrete evidence which are often found for iron production are the used bowling ball of furnaces, and tuyeres and slag from the furnace or forging processes. Bloom and bellows are obsolescent finds. Traces o f mining and beneficiation of iron ore can also be used as archaeological evidence. However, these evidence could only be used if afterward the beneficiation, the ore has proceed to the next production level and mining evidence are often lost as a result of recent iron ore mining. Slag analysis and radiocarbon dating the charcoal which were used to depose up the furnace was used for dating. Metallography and petrographic analysis are carried out on slag and charcoal samples in order to help understand the processes within the furnace (Kense and Okoro 1993, 449-450). reconstruction of the iron smelting technology has been made by archaeologists as part of an important process in understanding the running of the ancient technology and to pose confidence that their impression of the methods used are correct.Apart from iron, copper and governing body were the other metals which were widely utilized in Africa. The more widespread of iron over two copper and brass must have meant th at iron had more favourable properties for different uses. The durability of iron over copper had meant that it was used to make various tools for farming pieces to weaponry. It was also used for sweetening in jewelleries, instruments and impressive pieces of artwork. Coins and currencies of multiple forms were made out of iron, such as the Kisi pennies, a traditional form of iron currency used in West Africa for trading. Kisi pennies are twisted iron rods which range from 30cm to 2m in length. They are suggested to be used in various forms of either marital transactions or simply conveniently shaped for transportation, melting down and reshaping it into other desired object. Africa has many different kinds of iron currencies, often regionally with varying shapes and values. In terms of quantity of use and production, iron had achieved a importantly high figure by comparison to other metals, but, it did not fill in other materials such as stone and wooden tools.Figure 1 shows a 20th century iron West African Kisi centime excavated from Kenema, Sierra Leone(Source http//www.bmagic.org.uk/objects/1995C107)Iron production was recognized as having a great influence over Africa in great regional variation both culturally in trade and expansion, and socially in beliefs and rituals. Evidence for the cultural significance can be seen today as it is still carried out by the present varying African cultures. Ethnographical information has been most useful in the reconstruction of the past events surrounding iron production, but these reconstructions maybe become altered overtime and further influenced by anthropology.In Africa, the Iron Age was mainly based around the agricultural mutation which was driven by the use of iron tools. These iron tools had resulted in high efficient productions on a much larger scales. Fishing hooks, arrow heads and spears were used for hunting. Iron weapons also post effects on warfare. The productions of these items in line with th e other iron goods had helped in stimulating economic activities, and led to the rise of both chiefdoms and states. The processes of producing iron were often controlled by the ironworkers personally, or a central power in larger societies such as states or kingdoms (Barros 2000, 154). Individuals in some societies had resulted as smelters or smiths, who specialize in full one particular skill from the many necessary to the production processes as a result of the demands for iron trade. This may also be possible to have resulted in some tradesmen specializing in iron transportation and trade (Barros 2000, 152). However, the iron production industries did not benefited every African region as some have suffered from environmental problems due to the massive deforestation need for supplying charcoal for fuelling the smelting furnaces (Muhammed 1993, 466). An example of this can be seen from the ecological crisis of the Mema orbit (Holl 2000, 48).Different social status distributes amongst iron smelters and smiths depending on their culture (Radimilahy 1993, 478-483). Some were having low status in the society as a result of the aspects of manual labour and associations with witchcrafts. These can be seen in the Maasai and Tuareg (Childs et al. 2005, 288). Whereas in other cultures, the skills are often hierarchical in the families and these individuals often held higher social status in the community. The communities often depended on these produced materials due to their decent friendship of iron working. They were believed to have strong supernatural powers in some communities as they were seen as highly as the king of chief. An example can be seen from the excavation in Great Lakes, Eastern Africa at the royal tomb of King Rugira, where two iron anvils were place at his head, suggesting importance and powerful significance (Childs et al. 2005, 288). According to some cultures, there are myths built up around the iron smelter who emphasized their god lik e significance.As iron production developed widely crossways the African continent, it had significantly influenced the social rites in terms of beliefs and, particularly, rituals. The process of smelting was often done in isolation, away from the rest of the community. Ironworkers were ritually experts in encouraging good productions and to caution off bad spirits with songs and prayers, giving medicines as well as making sacrifices. The latter are often put in or buried underneath the furnace. An example of this can be seen during the early Iron Age in Tanzania and Rwanda (Schmidt 1997).Some cultures had used iron production as sexual symbolism. Smelting is suggested to be integrated with the fertility of the society, similar to the natural reproduction, production of bloom represented birth and conception. Many strict taboos were known to surround the process. Smelting processes were entirely carried out away from the village by the men. As for the women, any activities of tou ching of the materials or simply just being present could try successful production. Having the men away from the fertile women had been suggested to have reduced the temptations which could other depreciate the smelts productivity. The furnaces are often exaggeratedly decorated to represent an externalise of a woman, or the mother of the bloom (Collett 1993, 507).According to the late C. S. smith (Smith 1981), the founder of historical metallurgy, has always insisted on the fact that metallurgy is above all an intellectual and social activity (Childs and Killick 1993, 33). The African community had used metals and various other materials such as glass, cloth and wood to express their views of the social structure of nature and society, in ways as complex and diverse as the beliefs themselves even the technology of smelting, constrained as it is by the invariant laws of thermodynamics, offers ample scope for the expression of beliefs about the order of things (Childs and Killic k 1993, 33). Numerous African metallurgy scholars have been at the forefront of viewing technology as social process. engineering science is not a monolithic force that is somehow separate from people, but is the product of complex ideology, careful negotiations and manipulations, and the vagaries of local resources (Childs and Killick 1993, 33).As a conclusion, African metallurgy, maybe considered to be of important to study because, not only does it allow a comprehensive range of study of iron production across the African continent, but it also gives an understanding of how it influenced the aspects of archaeology in Africa. Iron production had given birth to extraordinary diversity in Africa which then had created advanced farming methods through tools, deadly warfare and trading of invaluable items and then on influenced the life of the Africans socially, culturally and politically.(2, 791 words)