Metals of antiquity
The phrase "metals of antiquity" refers to the seven metals which humankind had identified and found use for in prehistoric times.[citation needed] These seven metals, gold, copper, silver, lead, tin, iron, and mercury, are the seven metals upon which modern civilization—at least Western civilization—was founded.[citation needed]
Of these seven metals, five can be found in their native states (gold, silver, copper, iron, and mercury). The other two, tin and lead, must be smelted from ore; however, both smelt at low enough temperatures that a simple campfire is sufficiently hot to do so, at least with ores that were available in ancient times.
Of all the elemental metals that are now known to exist (86, as of 2007[update]), only these seven were known up until the 13th century, when arsenic was first isolated .
References
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