The Metals’ Family Tree and their Separate Branches: an Experiential Journey

Metals have been integral to people’s lives for several millennia. We interact with them daily in many forms to fulfil a wide range of needs, from food preparation or elaboration of attire, to architectural components or means of transportation. We take for granted that one material meets these distinct challenges, but discovering metal’s versatility has only been achievable through long-term engagement over a period of millennia. This enabled craftspeople to learn and understand their special characteristics, or properties, which both facilitate and constrain usage, with each metal having its own unique combination of properties. Due to this, craftspeople frequently employ multiple metals for a single artefact, melding together a desired package of properties. The significant differences between the metals and their recurrent use in combination thus calls for an intra-cross-craft approach. Past metal production can only be fully understood by comprehending these properties. This knowledge comprises elements that can be transmitted discursively, but also those that can only be transmitted non-discursively, the latter being impossible to communicate in full without direct experience, which can be difficult to acquire. This paper proposes methods through which such direct experience of the properties of metals can be obtained, by inviting readers to participate in simple experiential activities using common household items. These properties are then discussed in an intra-cross-craft setting, using case studies to demonstrate how and why different metals are used together and the implications of these technical practices.