Excavations of the ruins in the archaeological settlement of Metsamor in central Armenia revealed a very large metallurgical industrial facility of the Bronze Age, including a foundry with two types of blast furnaces.

It is known that the foundry was used to mine and process gold, copper, several types of manganese, zinc, strychnine, mercury, and iron.

Additionally, several huge underground caves were discovered that are believed to have been the repositories for the base metal.

The first iron in the ancient world was probably obtained here, although it was often used as bronze. The metal from the foundry of Metsamor was also exported to Egypt, Central Asia, and China.

METSAMOR, My HOMETOWN

ANCIENT CITY OF METSAMOR CAPTURED AND DESTROYED BY ARGISHTI I, THE RULER OF URARTU