The seventh chapter covers the smelting of iron ores, the production of wrought iron and the ways in which this can be converted into steel. The final chapter summarises the processes used in the production of volatile metals, i.e. those which, at the temperatures required to reduce them, are present as gases. Early Metal Mining and Production provides a clear summary of the present state of knowledge of many aspects of ancient metal technology. It is largely free from technical terms and concepts and so is accessible to general readers. Nevertheless, it will be of particular interest to students of archaeometallurgy.
Technology is treated as an entity separate from social and economic issues.
Only when technology is placed within its social, economic and symbolic context will such issues be addressed. It also does not cover the production of all metals in all areas of the world, although such a book would be very long and perhaps beyond the competence of a single author. The early iron and zinc industries of China and India are covered but copper is not. The use of native copper in North America is explored in some detail but the smelting and alloying technology of South America is barely mentioned. The criteria for choosing which areas, metals and eras were dealt with is not made clear.