An industrial interruption
Construction in the Navoi Free Economic Zone, an area designated for modern industry, unexpectedly uncovered an ancient industrial site. Excavations revealed copper smelting furnaces dated to approximately 4,000 years ago. This places the activity squarely in the Middle Bronze Age, around 2000 BCE. The discovery shows that this region, now a hub for Uzbekistan's mineral wealth, has a history of metallurgy going back millennia. The pause in factory construction allowed for a rare look at the history of metal production that lies beneath the surface of the Kyzylkum Desert.
Archaeological analysis of such sites focuses on the material remains of the smelting process. This includes fragments of the furnace walls, which were likely simple clay-lined pits or short shafts. Scientists also study the slag, a glassy waste product that separates from the metal during heating. The chemical composition of the slag reveals details about the process, such as the types of ore used and the temperatures reached. The people operating these furnaces were likely part of the widespread Andronovo culture or a related group. These cultures were skilled metallurgists, known for mining and processing the copper and tin deposits throughout Central Asia.