1. History

Known since ancient times, foundry is one of man's earliest trades.

The evolution of metal casting, which can be traced back to at least 3,000 BC, is of great technical and cultural importance. Casting is a fundamental operation in the shaping of metals. Many objects in the history of culture, such as tools, weapons, bells and sculptures, would not have seen the light of day without the very early mastery of mould casting.

Around 5,000 BC, Anatolia produced the first molten copper objects. Around 3,500 B.C., the Balkan region was Europe's oldest metallurgical center. Around 2,000 BC, knowledge of metallurgy spread to the whole of Western Europe.

The first metallurgy, that of copper, was only really practiced in regions with copper deposits.

In the Bronze Age, on the other hand, major metallurgical...