Pre-Hispanic metallurgy encompasses the use of different metals and their processing at various temperature ranges, which made it possible to produce alloys such as tumbaga (a gold-copper alloy) or bronze (a copper-tin or copper-arsenic alloy). Metallurgy likewise comprises diverse techniques ranging from hammering and repoussé to lost-wax casting with a core. Research indicates that the origin of metallurgy in the Americas has its earliest examples approximately 3,500 years ago in South America, with later examples appearing in Central America and North America.
This symposium brings together research and contributions on metallurgy in the Americas, with particular focus on Colombia, the Central Andes, and Mesoamerica. It gathers specialists in repoussé, lost-wax casting, molds, inlay work, iconography, the symbolism of these materials, and a range of related topics. The main objective is to convene universities, institutes, laboratories, researchers, students, and members of indigenous communities with similar interests and questions. Our aim is to facilitate communication among these actors, thereby fostering research advances aimed at resolving questions common across the continent and contributing to an understanding of the knowledge and motivations of indigenous peoples.
