Akukho mntu waziyo okokuba yafunwa yaza yasetyenziswa nini na i-metal yokuqala. Kwakuyile yayibizwa ngokuba yi-cooper yemveli, nethi ifumaneke ngamanye amaxesha kwii-lumps ezinkulu emhlabeni. Abantu baafunda ukutshinstha le nto ibe zii-ctools zecopper akwanezinye izinto, nangona, xa kuthethwa nge-metal, yona ithambe kakhulu. Xa yayinyibilikiswa emlilweni, abantu batsho bafunda ukwenza i-alloy ebizwa ngokuba yi-bronze, ethande ukuba lukhuni nokuba namandla kune-copper. Abantu babesenza iimela nezihlobo zemfazwe nge-bronze. Kungoku nje kwimbali yolunti, emva kweminyaka emalunga nama-3300 BC isoloko ibizwa ngokuba yi-Bronze Age, oko kuthetha okokuba lixesha lezixhobo ze-bronze nezixhobo zemfazwe.