How Bronze Age Britons Crafted Copper Mining Tools from Ancient Bones

Despite having the technology for metal tools, communities in Bronze Age Britain effectively utilized animal bone tools in conjunction with metal for copper extraction over nine centuries, from 3700 to 2800 years ago.

A detailed study of 150 bones from a Bronze Age copper mining site at Great Orme, North Wales, reveals that these bones were deliberately chosen and crafted for specific mining tasks, particularly for extracting copper from soft rocks.

“This discovery challenges the conventional belief that Bronze Age mining relied predominantly on metal and stone tools. A more diverse and adaptable toolkit is emerging,” says Olga Zagorodnia from the British Museum.

Since the early 1990s, over 30,000 bone fragments have been unearthed at the site. Preliminary studies show that more than half of these fragments originate from cattle, with the rest primarily from sheep, goats, and pigs. Some bones are suspected to have served functional roles as tools, as noted in a 2011 study that identified wear patterns indicative of tool use.

By employing high-resolution microscopy, Zagorodnia and White analyzed the wear marks on the 150 bones. They replicated mining activities using bone tool replicas to compare wear patterns with those on ancient specimens.

“Notably, we observed rapid post-consumer wear development, which corroborated our microscopic findings,” remarks White. “Our experiments with bone splitting produced circular fracture patterns that mirrored those found in the archaeological samples, creating a tangible link to the ancient miners.”

The findings imply that these bones were purposefully modified into various tools, including wedges fashioned from limb bones for splitting soft rocks potentially rich in copper. Evidence of tapering and polishing suggests that some tools were designed to be affixed to a handle, akin to a metal pick, a significant new discovery.

Conversely, rib bones likely served to carve through soft sandy limestone, possibly acting as scrapers or agitators to enhance copper separation during ore processing. Moreover, researchers identified tools fashioned from scapula or pelvis bones that may have been utilized for shoveling or scraping fine ore.

“The evidence from Great Orme signifies a continuation of long-established technological practices, predating metalworking.” Researchers posit that bones, as readily available resources in pastoral societies, offered a labor-efficient alternative to crafting metal tools.

The findings align with those from other prehistoric mining sites across Europe, where bone tools have been discovered. “Bronze Age communities in Britain and Europe didn’t merely switch to metal; they employed an integrated approach, utilizing both materials creatively,” notes White. “This reflects a profound understanding of material properties and hints at organized mining techniques involving specialized tools and potentially skilled labor.”

“Both authors introduce a remarkable level of scientific rigor to this unique field of artifact research.” states freelance archaeologist Simon Timberlake from Cambridge, UK. “To fully grasp the advancements that transitioned Stone Age technology into the Metal Age, we must thoroughly investigate the tools they employed.”

Discover the Origins of Humanity and Prehistoric Times in South-West England

Engage in an enriching experience of the early human eras, including the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, with this gentle walking tour.