Oldest Known European Metal Tool ? The Start of it all

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Silver Shield

I have not read a paper of casting this early ? do you know the author? and Paper? I have look at the open surfaces and seen no micro-porosity under magnification on any exposed surfaces as would be expected in melted or " cast" and the And since I'm not as well versed as I'd like , and slightly dull of mind , I would make a few comments . First slag does not necessarily mean casting but certainly would indicate melting . Second have moulds or patterns been found ? This piece as my comments indicated is heavily corroded , its not flaws in a " Casting " and the Northwestern Indians for one made even large Knifes and such where made from copper masses by hammering.

I made a little research and I found out that the biggest copper nuggets have a weight of more than 2 kg or 65 oz. This is big enough to forge a tool without melting.
I think it was melted because they had no tools to forge metal.
I believe, this tools were casted (like the axe of Ötzi) and grinded on a stone.
The corrosion means not much, maybe it got lost in an acid environment.

Here are some sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcolithic

and probably useless for you but much more informative: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kupfersteinzeit