The Metal Age

Index

• When did metallurgy appear?

• How did life change?

• What were megaliths?

• Prehistoric megalithic monuments

When did metallurgy appear?

The first metals were used in the Middle East, around 5000 BC

The Metal Age is sub-divided into three ages: First, Coopper Age: copper

was used because it was soft to be hammered

Then, Bronze Age And finally, Iron Age,

around 2000 BC With these metals, people made new tools, weapons, ornaments and jewellery

How did life change?

Model of the Millares village (Almería)

• The Neolithic villages evolved into de first cities and were surrounded by walls.

• Trade improved with the invention of the wheel

• Agriculture was improved with the plough and the irrigation canal

• Wars were common

• There was probably a

privileged social class

of warriors

The term megaliths comes from the ancient Greek: megas meaning great and lithos meaning stone.

The construction of first architectural structures took place at the end of Neolithic Age and continued into the Metal Age

What were megaliths?

Prehistoric megalithic monuments

Prehistoric megalithic monuments are divided into four categories:

1. Dolmens

2. Menhirs

3. Stone Rows

4. Stone circles

1.Dolmens or chamber tombs A dolmen, meaning 'big stone table'

They are the remains of collective burial chambers They were oriented east

2. Menhir

Single standing stones

Its purpose is unknow: monuments to fertility, rituals, memorials…

3. Stone rows or alignments Menhirs placed in parallel rows. Its function is unknown.

In this photo we can see the Stones of Carnac (France). There are thousands of stones

4. Stone circles or cromlechs

A cromlech is a megalithic monument formed by several dozen menhirs planted in circle.

The most famous cromlech is Stonehenge (England) (in the photo)

Function: they were used as funerary monuments, temples or meeting places

Thanks for your attention