The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos 'copper stone') period or Copper Age period [also known as the Eneolithic (Æneolithic)], is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools.

The period is a transitional one outside of the traditional three-age system, and occurs between the Neolithic and Bronze Age. It appears that copper was not widely exploited at first and that efforts in alloying it with tin and other metals began quite soon, making distinguishing the distinct Chalcolithic cultures and periods difficult.

The emergence of metallurgy was occurred first in the Fertile Crescent, where it gave rise to the Bronze Age in the 4th millennium BC. There was an independent and limited invention of metallurgy in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica form about the 7th century CE, which however didn't go past the "Chalcolithic" stage.

The literature of European archaeology generally avoids the use of 'chalcolithic' (they prefer the term 'Copper Age'), while Middle-Eastern archaeologists regularly use it. The Copper Age in the Middle East and the Caucasus begins in the late 5th millennium BC and lasts for about a millennium before it gives rise to the Early Bronze Age. Transition from the European Copper Age to Bronze Age Europe occurs about a millennium later, between the late 4th and the late 3rd millennia BC.

According to Parpola, ceramic similarities between the Indus Civilization, southern Turkmenistan and northern Iran during 4300–3200 BC of the Chalcolithic period (Copper Age) suggest considerable mobility and trade.

Europe

Knowledge of the use of copper was far wider spread than the metal itself. The European Battle Axe culture used stone axes modelled on copper axes, with imitation "mold marks" carved in the stone.

The European Beaker people are often considered Chalcolithic as were the cultures which first adopted urbanisation in southwest Asia. Many megaliths in Europe were erected during this period and it has been suggested that Proto-Indo-European linguistic unity dates to around the same time. Examples of Chalcolithic cultures in Europe include Los Millares on the Iberian Peninsula in present day Spain.

Ötzi the Iceman, found in the Ötztaler Alps and whose remains have been dated to about 3300 BC, carried a copper axe and flint knife. The high concentrations of copper found in his hair have lead to speculation that he was a metalworker, who may have died while prospecting for ore in the mountains.

Mesoamerica

Less commonly, the term is also applied to American civilizations which already used copper and copper alloys at the time of European conquest. The Old Copper Complex, located in present day Michigan and Wisconsin in the USA used copper for tools, weapons and other implements. Artifacts from these sites have been dated from 4000 to 1000 BC, making them some of the oldest Chalcolithic sites in the world.

Notes

References

• Transactions of the 50th International Conference of Eastern Studies .">http://www.helsinki.fi/~aparpola/tices_50.pdf}}.

• The Atlas of World Archaeology .
• C.Michael Hogan (2007) Los Silillos, The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17974
• T.C. Pleger (2000) The Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes http://www.uwfox.uwc.edu/academics/depts/tpleger/oldcopper.html

See also

• Synoptic table of the principal old world prehistoric cultures
• Three age system

External links

• Chalcolithic Era entry in Encyclopaedia Iranica