page_title: List of Egyptian inventions and discoveries
section_title: Metals, Elements and Materials
hierarchical_section_title: List of Egyptian inventions and discoveries / Ancient Egypt / Metals, Elements and Materials
caption_attribution_description: English: Beads, string
context_page_description: Egyptian inventions and discoveries are objects, processes or techniques which owe their existence either partially or entirely to an Egyptian person. Often, things which are discovered for the first time, are also called "inventions", and in many cases, there is no clear line between the two. Below is a list of such inventions.
context_section_description: Emerald – Emerald was first mined in Egypt since at least the New Kingdom.
  Iron – beads made from meteorite iron was discovered in Egypt dating to 3,500 BC. (22 centuries before the Iron Age). Scarce Iron tools would be found in Egypt and throughout the third millennium BC.
  Mercury – The earliest known use of Mercury dates to Ancient Egypt around 1500 BC.
  Natron – Used in Mummification as early as 3000 BC.
  Soapstone or Steatite was used in Egypt as early as Naqada III period.
  Turquoise – Turquoise was mined in Egypt Since at least the First Dynasty (3000 BCE), and possibly before then, turquoise was used by the Egyptians and was mined by them in the Sinai Peninsula. This region was known as the Country of Turquoise by the native Monitu.
  Wattle and daub – Wattle and daub was used in Egypt as early as the Merimde culture.
  Lime mortar - Lime mortar was invented by Ancient Egyptians before the Old Kingdom and was used in the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
  Egyptian Alabaster - Alabaster (Egyptian alabaster) was discovered and used abundantly in ancient times.
  Amethyst a form of Quartz was first used by the Ancient Egyptians.
  Malachite – Ancient Egyptians mined malachite at Maadi as early as the Old Kingdom.
  Electrum – Electrum was used as early as the third millennium BC in Old Kingdom of Egypt, sometimes as an exterior coating to the pyramidions atop ancient Egyptian pyramids and obelisks. It was also used in the making of ancient drinking vessels.
  Other Than that, The Ancient Egyptians were the first to use gold (4000 BC.) and Lead (3800 BC.) abundantly.
caption: String of beads; 3300–3100 BC; carnelian, garnet, quartz and glazed steatite; length: 20.5 cm; by Naqada III culture Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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