Metalworking was being carried out by the South Asian inhabitants of Mehrgarh between 7000 and 3300 BCE. The end of the beginning of metalworking occurs sometime around 6000 BCE when copper smelting became common in Southwestern Asia. Ancient civilisations knew of seven metals.

How did Metallurgy begin?

Metallurgical history began with the use of native metals, which are metals not attached to an ore. Such native metals are fairly rare so the widespread use of metals really began when humans learnt how to extract metals from their ores, a process known as smelting.

How was copper first discovered?

The discovery that copper could also be obtained by heating Blue Stones or minerals (primarily copper sulfide ores) occurred between 4000 - 3000 BC. The extraction of Copper from Copper Sulfide Ores provided Man with another, more abundant source of copper.