Evidence exists for earlier iron metallurgy in parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Central Africa , possibly from as early as around 2,000 BCE. Some evidence from historical linguistics suggests that the Nok culture of Nigeria may have practiced iron smelting from as early as 1000 BCE.
Where was iron first discovered in Africa?
The earliest iron artifacts in the world were beads made by the Egyptians about 5,000 years ago. The earliest smelting in sub-Saharan Africa dates to the 8th century BCE in Ethiopia .
When did iron come to Africa?
Iron technology first appears in the African continent in the 1st millennium BCE , and the term Iron Age is generally used, certainly south of the Sahara, to describe iron-using communities in Africa until the modern historical era.
How was iron introduced to Africa?
Iron smelting came into Central Africa from two directions. In the northwest the oldest source of the new knowledge was on the Nigerian plateau. ... The eastern tradition of smelting used furnaces as well as bellows to create the necessary draft with which to turn charcoal and ironstone into wrought iron and molten waste.
Where is iron produced in Africa?
Iron ore production in Africa is dominated by South Africa, Mauritania and Algeria . Many countries possess iron ore deposits that are as yet untapped/unmined.
Did Africans invent iron?
By the late 1960s some surprisingly early radiocarbon dates had been obtained for iron smelting sites in both Niger and central Africa (Rwanda, Burundi), reviving the view that iron-making was independently invented by Africans in sub-Saharan Africa as far back as 3600 BCE .
Why was there no Bronze Age in Africa?
Unlike Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa lacks a Bronze Age, a period in which softer metals, such as copper, were made into artifacts . In Sub-Saharan Africa there is a Stone Age and an Iron Age. ... By 500 BCE, smelting and forging iron for tools were well-developed.
Who first used iron?
Archeologists believe that iron was discovered by the Hittites of ancient Egypt somewhere between 5000 and 3000 BCE. During this time, they hammered or pounded the metal to create tools and weapons. They found and extracted it from meteorites and used the ore to make spearheads, tools and other trinkets.
Is there steel in Africa?
Steel comes from iron ore and South Africa is the seventh-largest producer of iron -ore and has also traditionally been the fourthlargest exporter worldwide, feeding the fast growing Chinese economy.
Why was iron important in Africa?
Iron played a central role in many societies of early Africa. It held both spiritual and material power . Physically, Africans used iron to create tools for agriculture, utensils for everyday life, and weapons for protection and conquest (Shillington, 2012, p.
Where did iron smelting originate?
The Iron Age in the Ancient Near East is believed to have begun with the discovery of iron smelting and smithing techniques in Anatolia or the Caucasus and Balkans in the late 2nd millennium BC ( c. 1300 BC). The earliest bloomery smelting of iron is found at Tell Hammeh, Jordan around 930 BC ( 14 C dating).
When was Iron Age started?
The Iron Age was a period in human history that started between 1200 B.C. and 600 B.C. , depending on the region, and followed the Stone Age and Bronze Age. During the Iron Age, people across much of Europe, Asia and parts of Africa began making tools and weapons from iron and steel.
What African country has the most iron?
Simandou, a 110-kilometer range of hills deep in the hinterland of Guinea in Western Africa, boasts the world’s largest untapped iron ore reserves.
Which country is the highest producer of iron ore in Africa?
South Africa
Kumba Iron Ore (JSE:KIO) is Africa’s largest iron ore producer. The company’s flagship mine, Sishen, accounts for approximately 69 percent of Kumba’s total iron ore output.
Which country is rich in iron?
| Rank Country Usable iron ore production (1000 tonnes) | 1 Australia 930,000 | 2 Brazil 480,000 | 3 China 350,000 | 4 India 210,000 |
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What came after the Iron Age?
The end of the Iron Age is generally considered to coincide with the Roman Conquests, and history books tell us that it was succeeded by Antiquity and then the Middle Ages .
