Six thousand years ago, people living in the southern Levant moved from small, autonomous villages to complex social structures while inventing products and processes that are used even now. They discovered how to irrigate the desert and grow fruit crops, and how to transform copper ore into a usable metal. These people of the Chalcolithic period, or Copper Age, revealed an artistic genius by creating stunning symbols of rank and power—metal standards, crowns, and mace heads—as well as more utilitarian copper objects, many unearthed by archaeologists in the fabulous Cave of the Treasure.

The exhibition, which ended its run at the Museum of Man on February 4, 2008, was based on a National Geographic–sponsored expedition. Thomas Levy, Professor of Anthropology and Chalcolithic Studies at the University of California, San Diego, and Kenneth Garrett, independent photographer working with National Geographic, capture important moments in time in Journey to the Copper Age: Archaeology in the Holy Land. Dr. Levy's adventurous journey with a team of international scientists, re-creating the copper smelting processes used by our inventive ancestors, is the highlight of this fascinating story.

For the exhibition, Professor Levy has written Journey to the Copper Age: Archaeology in the Holy Land, published by the San Diego Museum of Man and available for just $18 at (619) 239-2001 or by downloading our Publications List and Order Form. Museum members receive a 10% discount.

Click here for information on the Museum of Man Publication Order Form

Tickets for Journey to the Copper Age may be purchased online at this link. Museum members, please call (619) 239-2001 for information on tickets at members' rates.