The Significance and Terminology of Copper in Ancient Egypt

Interview recorded 2024. How does copper cut stone? Martin Odler specialises in ancient Egyptian technology. Specifically, the manufacture and use of metal in tools and industry. In this interview, Dr. Odler shares some of his research insights on the production and use of copper, at sites like the Giza pyramids during the Old Kingdom. We also explore the use of metal in weaponry and daily life, and how scientists can experiment with reconstructed tools to examine their value and effectiveness. Today, Dr. Odler shares his methodical and wide-ranging interests. Personally, I learned a lot from speaking with him.

• Logo image: A copper mirror of Reni-Seneb (c.1800 BCE), Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Martin Odler at Newcastle University.
• Research papers by Martin Odler at Academia.edu.
• Book: Copper in Ancient Egypt Before, During, and After the Pyramid Age (c.4000—1600 BC) (2023), published by Brill.
• Book: Old Kingdom Copper Tools and Model Tools (2016), published by Archaeopress.

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