Meroe Iron Smelting

Timeline

1. c. -500–-200Iron ore belt around Meroe · SudanArchaeological finds show that the Meroe region began systematically mining local iron ore in the second half of the first millennium BCE, with smelting facilities such as blast furnaces appearing, laying the foundation for later large-scale iron production.
2. c. -200–350Meroe · SudanMeroe became an important sub-Saharan metallurgical center; large amounts of iron slag, furnace hearths, and iron tools have been excavated, showing that iron smelting was integrated into the royal economy, military equipment, and long-distance trade networks.