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How did pre-Columbian metalworkers in the Americas use hammering and annealing?
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metalwork
Warrior and attendants plaque, brass relief sculpture by Edo artists in the court of the kingdom of Benin (now Nigeria), 16th–17th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Pre-Columbian metalworkers in the Americas demonstrated sophisticated technical mastery, utilizing cold hammering and annealing as fundamental processes to shape metals like gold, silver, and copper.1
These techniques were employed in several ways:
- Raising: Smiths used hammer work to "raise" vessels from flat disks of sheet gold or silver, a technique that reached its peak in Peru.1
- Sintering: In Ecuador, artisans achieved a significant technological triumph by creating complex, microscopic beads from an alloy of gold and platinum. This was accomplished through sintering, which involved alternately hammering and heating the metals without melting them.1
- General Fabrication: Cold hammering was also used extensively by cultures such as the Hopewell to produce copper ornaments and weapons.1
Annealing—the process of heating metal to soften it—was essential to these practices, as it allowed smiths to continue hammering and shaping the material without it becoming brittle or cracking. These methods were often combined with other decorative techniques, such as embossing and chasing, to create intricate works of art.1