Contamination and pollution are footprints of our technological past. However, we often see pollution as a modern phenomenon, even though scientists have found evidence of contamination dating back to much earlier in human history. Metallurgy was one of the first human technologies to cause lasting imprints on humans, animals, and the environment. Despite archaeological materials preserving some of the earliest evidence of anthropogenic contamination, archaeology has rarely engaged with these discussions.

In this talk, I present archaeological, metallurgical, and trace‑element evidence from animal teeth and soils at six archaeological sites in the Southeastern Carpathian Basin dating between 4500 and 1500 BCE. During this time, archaeological evidence shows a rise in local metallurgical production and an intensification of metalworking activities across the region. The trace‑element results not only capture episodes of heightened metallurgical activity, but also illuminate how communities responded to shifts in production intensity. Together, these datasets demonstrate the complexity of metallurgical activity, which depended on specific social and environmental conditions that affected all aspects of society's life.