Copper Age
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{{Neolithic}}
The '''Chalcolithic''' (Greek ''khalkos'' + ''lithos'' '[[copper]] stone') period or '''Copper Age''' period [also known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''')], is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early [[metal]] [[tool]]s appeared alongside the use of [[stone tools]].
The period is a transitional one outside of the traditional [[three-age system]], and occurs between the [[Neolithic]] and [[Bronze Age]]. It appears that copper was not widely exploited at first and that efforts in alloying it with [[tin]] and other metals began quite soon, making distinguishing the distinct Chalcolithic cultures and periods difficult.
The emergence of [[metallurgy]] occurred first in the [[Fertile Crescent]], where it gave rise to the [[Bronze Age]] in the [[4th millennium BC]]. There was an independent and limited invention of [[metallurgy in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica]] form about the [[7th century CE]], which however didn't go past the "Chalcolithic" stage.
The literature of European archaeology generally avoids the use of 'chalcolithic' (they prefer the term 'Copper Age'), while Middle-Eastern archaeologists regularly use it. The Copper Age in the Middle East and the Caucasus begins in the late [[5th millennium BC]] and lasts for about a millennium before it gives rise to the [[Early Bronze Age]]. Transition from the European Copper Age to [[Bronze Age Europe]] occurs about a millennium later, between the late 4th and the late 3rd millennia BC.
According to Parpola,<ref>A.Parpola, 2005</ref> ceramic similarities between the [[Indus Civilization]], southern [[Turkmenistan]] and northern [[Iran]] during 4300–3200 BC of the Chalcolithic period (Copper Age) suggest considerable mobility and trade.
==Europe==
Knowledge of the use of copper was far wider spread than the metal itself. The European [[Battle Axe culture]] used stone axes modelled on copper axes, with imitation "[[Molding (process)|mold]] marks" carved in the stone.
The European [[Beaker people]] are often considered Chalcolithic as were the cultures which first adopted urbanisation in southwest Asia. Many [[megalith]]s in Europe were erected during this period and it has been suggested that [[Proto-Indo-Europeans|Proto-Indo-European]] linguistic unity dates to around the same time. Examples of Chalcolithic cultures in Europe include [[Los Millares]] on the [[Iberian Peninsula]] in present day [[Spain]].<ref>C.M.Hogan, 2007</ref>
[[Ötzi the Iceman]], found in the Ötztaler [[Alps]] and whose remains have been dated to about [[3300 BC]], carried a copper [[axe]] and [[flint]] [[knife]]. The high concentrations of copper found in his hair have lead to speculation that he was a metalworker, who may have died while prospecting for ore in the mountains.
[[Image:Orionart.jpg|thumb|'''Orion pot''', discovered in the [[Croatia]]n town [[Vinkovci]], in the hearthland of the [[Vucedol culture]], is considered the oldest European calendar.]]
==East Asia==
5th millennia BC copper artifacts start to appear in East Asia, such as [[Jiangzhai]] and [[Hongshan culture]], but those metal artifacts were not widely used.
==Mesoamerica==
{{main|metallurgy in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica}}
Less commonly, the term is also applied to American civilizations which already used copper and copper [[alloy]]s at the time of European conquest. The Old Copper Complex, located in present day [[Michigan]] and [[Wisconsin]] in the [[USA]] used copper for tools, [[weapon]]s and other implements. [[Artifact (archaeology)|Artifacts]] from these sites have been dated from 4000 to 1000 [[BC]], making them some of the oldest Chalcolithic sites in the world.<ref>T.C.Pleger, 2000</ref>
==Notes==
<references/>
==References==
* {{Citation | last=Parpola | first=Asko | author-link=Asko Parpola | year=2005 | contribution=Study of the Indus script | title=Transactions of the 50th International Conference of Eastern Studies | place=Tokyo | publisher=The Tôhô Gakkai | pages=pp. 28-66 | url=http://www.helsinki.fi/~aparpola/tices_50.pdf}}.
* {{Citation | last=Bogucki | first=Peter | author-link=Peter Bogucki| year=2007 | contribution=Copper Age of Eastern Europe | title=The Atlas of World Archaeology | place=London | publisher=Sandcastle Books| pages=pp. 66| }}.
* C.Michael Hogan (2007) ''Los Silillos'', The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17974]
* T.C. Pleger (2000) ''The Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes'' [http://www.uwfox.uwc.edu/academics/depts/tpleger/oldcopper.html]
==See also==
*[[Synoptic table of the principal old world prehistoric cultures]]
*[[Three age system]]
==External links==
*[http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v5f4/v5f4a005.html Chalcolithic Era] entry in [[Encyclopaedia Iranica]]
[[Category:Copper Age| ]]
[[ar:عصر نحاسي]]
[[ca:Eneolític]]
[[cv:Пăхăр ĕмĕрĕ]]
[[cs:Eneolit]]
[[cy:Chalcolithig]]
[[da:Kobberalder]]
[[de:Kupfersteinzeit]]
[[el:Χαλκολιθική περίοδος]]
[[es:Edad del Cobre]]
[[eo:Ĥalkolitiko]]
[[eu:Kalkolito]]
[[fr:Chalcolithique]]
[[gl:Idade do Cobre]]
[[ko:순동기 시대]]
[[hr:Bakreno doba]]
[[it:Età del rame]]
[[he:התקופה הכלקוליתית]]
[[la:Aevum cupri]]
[[hu:Rézkor]]
[[nl:Kopertijd]]
[[ja:銅器時代]]
[[oc:Edat del Coire]]
[[pms:Età dl'aram]]
[[pl:Chalkolit]]
[[pt:Idade do Cobre]]
[[ru:Медный век]]
[[sl:Bakrena doba]]
[[sh:Bakarno doba]]
[[fi:Kalkoliittinen kausi]]
[[sv:Kalkolitikum]]
[[ta:செப்புக் காலம்]]
[[tr:Kalkolitik]]
[[uk:Енеоліт]]
[[zh:红铜时代]]
[[sk:Medená doba]]