Modern-day artist uses millennia-old tools, techniques for copper creations

摘要

It's commonly known that the use of copper and copper alloys put an end to the Stone Age, ushering in a new era, one in which tools and weapons were made of metal. Rather than spending countless hours chipping away at pieces of flint or polishing stone, mankind had at its disposal a newly discovered material, one that could be cast into various shapes, heated and re-formed if necessary, and hardened. Although a close look at a stone tool collection reveals a surprising level of sophistication and versatility, the tools were limited by the size and shape of the original piece and the skill of the stoneworker. Casting and forging copper and its alloys, specifically bronze, expanded tool-makers' versatility exponentially.