Ngexesha lamatye

Ixesha lamatye kwakulixesha lakudala apho abantu ababesenza izixhobo ngamatye,  ngeenkuni, ngamathambo nangezinye izinto azazikwasetyenziswa njengezixhobo, kodwa ilitye (ingakumbi uhlobo lwelitye olwalubizwa ngokuba y iflint)  lwalusetyenziswa ukunqumla izinto.  
Eli xesha laqala ngezixhobo zokuqala ezingamatye, malunga ne2.7 yezigidi zeminyaka eyadlulayo. Amanye amaqela abantu ayesekwixesha lamatye nakwinkulungwane yama20th yeminyaka. Babekwabulala izilwanyana ukuze bafumane into etyiwayo kunye nempahla yokunxiba.  
Ixesha elilandela ixesha lamatye yaba lixesha leBronze, eyathiwa eli gama emva kokuvela kweinkcenkce bronze. Ixesha lelitye laaphelelwa mhla abantu bafumanisa ubuchule bokunyibilikisa (bokwenza iinkcenkce). Inkcenkce yokuqala kwaba yicopper, yaza yalandelwa yibronze. Baqala ngoku abantu basebenzisa ibronze endaweni yelitye ku Mbindi-Mpuma phaya kwiminyaka yoo3000 ne2000 BC.