A groundbreaking study from the University of Haifa has uncovered rare archaeological evidence at the Ahwat site, a short-lived settlement from the Early Iron Age located in the northwest West Bank, revealing the first direct proof of local bronze production in Israel’s hilly region around 3,000 years ago.
The findings challenge long-held assumptions about the technological and economic landscape of the period. Microscopic analysis of metal residues and byproducts found at Ahwat shows that the site was not merely recycling old metal but engaging in primary bronze production, creating alloys of copper and tin.
“This is the first definitive evidence that bronze was actively produced in the Land of Israel during the Early Iron Age, not through recycling but as a deliberate manufacturing process in a peripheral hill settlement, not a major city,” said lead researcher Dr. Tzilla Eshel from the University of Haifa.
The study highlights a pivotal moment in history when the collapse of major empires in the eastern Mediterranean at the end of the Late Bronze Age disrupted international trade networks. This upheaval opened opportunities for local groups, including those controlling copper production in the Arava Desert region, to emerge as key players.
The metal industry that developed in the Arava is now recognized as a driving force behind the formation of new political entities, such as the kingdoms of Israel, Judah and Edom. Dr. Eshel’s study sought to determine whether Ahwat was part of a broader regional trade network and actively produced bronze during this transformative period.
The findings build on artifacts unearthed about 30 years ago during excavations led by the late Prof. Adam Zertal. Dr. Shai Bar, from the University of Haifa’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology, provided metal artifacts for scientific analysis, conducted in collaboration with Yoav Bornstein and Gal Bermatov-Paz from the university’s School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures.
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Advanced techniques, including microscopic imaging, structural analysis and chemical composition testing, identified the artifacts as products of copper and bronze smelting, along with slag—a byproduct of the process. The team also analyzed lead isotopes in the metal to trace the raw materials’ origins.
Published in the PLOS ONE journal, the study reveals that some metal droplets, solidified remnants of the smelting process, resulted from alloying copper with tin, not remelting existing metal. The metal’s structure and composition indicate production under variable conditions, with some materials smelted unevenly and others crafted with greater precision.
Chemical signatures linked some samples to copper ores from the Faynan mines in Jordan and others to the Timna mines in Israel, though the isotopic similarity due to their proximity along the Syro-African Rift makes precise differentiation challenging. The presence of manganese and other metals unique to Faynan in some artifacts suggests both regions supplied copper.
“The findings point to an emerging, non-professional industry,” Dr. Eshel noted. “The alloys vary in quality, but it’s clear this was an intentional effort to produce bronze on-site, a remarkable discovery that forces us to rethink the economy and social organization of the Iron Age.”
The study illuminates organized metal production in a region previously considered marginal, adding a new dimension to our understanding of economic and social connections in the Early Iron Age.
Rather than a localized industry reliant on recycling, the evidence points to a distribution network for raw materials and emerging technological capabilities beyond urban centers. Questions about the tin’s source, the identity of the groups at Ahwat and the extent of the bronze production network remain open, setting the stage for further research.