Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (170 page)

One of the first metals (Cu) to be exploited by human communities. In its native form it can be worked without prior treatment. It was later extracted from a range of ores: carbonates (including
MALACHITE
and azurite); oxides (including cuprite and melaconite); and sulphides (including chalcanthite). Shaping could be done by hammering, casting, or a combination of the two. Copper provides the main constituent for a number of alloys, the most widely used being
BRONZE
. The development of copper metallurgy happened independently in several parts of the world: in western Asia around 6000 bc; in Europe around 4000 bc; in the Longshan Culture of China around 2500 bc; in South America around 1500 bc in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador; ad 100 in central America; and in North America amongst the Old Copper Cultures of the Great Lakes region around 3000 bc.

 
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See
CHALCOLITHIC
.

 
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Woodland consisting of deciduous trees cut periodically to near ground level, usually in strict rotation, to provide straight poles for fences, hurdles, and other purposes.

 
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Human or animal excrement (faeces) preserved usually by desiccation, fossilization, or in waterlogged conditions. See also
CESS PIT
.

 
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The study of preserved human and animal faeces.

 
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The language of ancient Egypt written in Greek letters with the addition of a few characters from the Demotic script. In art the term applies to forms and designs developed by Egyptians after the introduction of Christianity. The influence of both the art and the language has persisted to this day through the Coptic church.

 
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