Cabezo Juré facts for kids

Cabezo Juré is an exciting archaeological site found near Alosno in Huelva, Spain. It dates back to a very long time ago, around 3,000 BC. Recent digs have shown that this place was once home to a community of skilled workers. These ancient people were experts at working with copper, a type of metal. They used special furnaces to heat copper to super high temperatures, almost 1,200 degrees Celsius! Archaeologists have found lots of evidence of their work, like leftover materials called slag and copper tools. Scientists used a method called radiocarbon dating to figure out that Cabezo Juré was active between 2873 and 2274 BC.

What is Cabezo Juré?

Cabezo Juré is a special spot where archaeologists dig up clues about the past. It's like a giant puzzle that helps us understand how people lived thousands of years ago. This site is important because it shows us how early humans learned to work with metals. It's located in a beautiful part of Andalusia, a region in southern Spain.

A Glimpse into the Copper Age

The time when Cabezo Juré was active is known as the Copper Age. This was a period when people started using copper to make tools and other items. Before this, most tools were made from stone. Learning to melt and shape copper was a huge step forward for humanity. It allowed people to create stronger and more useful objects.

Why Copper Was Important

Copper was one of the first metals humans learned to use. It was softer than iron, but much easier to shape than stone. People could make axes, knives, and ornaments from copper. This made daily life easier and helped communities grow. The discovery of copper working changed how people lived and traded.

Discovering the Ancient Workers

Archaeologists started digging at Cabezo Juré in 1991. They carefully uncovered layers of earth, looking for signs of ancient life. What they found was amazing: proof of a busy workshop where copper was processed.

The Work of Archaeologists

Archaeologists are like detectives of the past. They use special tools and techniques to find and study old objects. At Cabezo Juré, they found parts of old furnaces. These were like big ovens where copper ore was heated until it melted. They also found lots of slag, which is the waste material left over after metal is extracted from its ore. Finding slag tells us that a lot of metalworking happened here.

How They Dated the Site

To know exactly how old Cabezo Juré is, scientists used radiocarbon dating. This method measures tiny amounts of carbon in ancient materials, like charcoal from old fires. By doing this, they could accurately tell that the site was active for several centuries during the Copper Age. This helps us place Cabezo Juré on a timeline of human history.

Copper Workers of Long Ago

The people who lived and worked at Cabezo Juré were very skilled. They knew how to find copper ore, how to build hot furnaces, and how to turn raw rock into useful metal. This shows a high level of organization and knowledge for such an early time.

The Process of Metallurgy

Metallurgy is the science of working with metals. At Cabezo Juré, the ancient people practiced early forms of copper metallurgy. They would collect copper-rich rocks, then crush them. Next, they would put the crushed ore into their furnaces. The intense heat would melt the copper, separating it from other materials. The melted copper could then be poured into molds to make tools or weapons.

What They Made

While we don't have a full list, it's likely they made various tools, weapons, and possibly even jewelry from copper. These items would have been valuable for their community and for trading with other groups. The ability to make metal objects gave them an advantage in their daily lives.