The Pyrotechnological Expedition of 1968

The 1960s saw a major increase in interest in technological issues in archaeology, particularly in metal and ceramic production, the origin of raw materials, and the development and spread of technologies. In this academic climate, Theodore Wertime set out to explore the beginnings of the use of fire in Western Asia and Central Asia with a series of expeditions, culminating in the survey of 1968, covering Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. These countries were already known for their prominent role in the early development of high-temperature technology, from plaster to ceramic and metals. Wertime wrote in 1968, "Forty years ago a number of European countries were vying to be known as the original home of the blast furnace – today the competition has moved in space to the Middle East and in time to the much earlier beginnings of the smelting of ores and metals.” (Wertime 1968, 927). In effect, archaeology was becoming more scientific and down-to-earth, starting to look beyond the palaces and grander people, in an attempt to find out more about the lives of ordinary people and addressing question of early farming, urbanisation and the various technologies that gave rise to civilisations