Ružana-new Bronze Age Metallurgical Center in North Eastern Serbia

Abstract

During excavations of the Ružana site near Bor last summer archaeologists discovered the new centre for copper ore smelting dating back to the Middle and Late Bronze Age in the prehistory in North Eastern Serbia. The investigated horizons indicate considerable slag remains (around 30 kilograms were collected). The slag composition shows the presence of copper and iron. In certain locations activities continued into the Iron Age, the La Ten and the Late Roman periods. The oldest horizon definitely belongs to the Bronze Age and contains the largest fragments of slag and pottery used in smelting process.