Prehistoric Tools to Carve Quartzitic Rocks and the Oldest Steel in Europe

Trial of chisels made from different bronze alloys (up to 16% tin) and quartzite choppers and hammers to carve a slicated quartz-sandstone ("quartzite") that was used in the Final Bronze Age/Early Iron Age transition in Iberia for rock art. Only the replication of a Final Bronze Age Steel chisel from Rocha do Vigio in Portugal, dated to 900-770 BC, could carve the surfavce. This indicates the use of hardened steel 2900 years ago.