Magan - The Land of Copper. Prehistoric Metallurgy of Oman.

The prehistoric civilizations of Oman are strongly connected with the exploitation and the use of copper, the reddish-colored metal that was first metal to be smelted from its ore. Oman, rich of copper ore deposits, was a basic source for the ancient Near East: the Sumer texts named the country Magan, a land where precious copper was found in fabulous abundance. The geography and the environments of Oman, the copper ore deposits of the country, the ancient mining and smelting techniques, the metal properties, the analytical techniques, the production of metal objects connected with the historical, cultural and economic development of Oman: these are just some of the topics covered in this volume. The book ranges from the beginning of the Omani metallurgy until the Early Iron Age, an expanded focus covering the whole of the prehistory of Oman. Particular attention has been paid to the archaeometric investigations on metal finds belonging to the different chronological periods.