More than 5,200 years ago, the Egyptians engaged in activities akin to an industrial age, leading the Nile River to become the first place on Earth affected by metal pollution.
A recent study published in the scientific journal Geology provides shocking evidence of the first instance of metal pollution caused by humans over 5,200 years ago, attributed to excessive metallurgical activities in ancient Egypt.
The only difference between their metallurgical activities and today’s industrial practices is that the central metal involved was not iron or steel, but copper.
The ancient Khufu port area, adjacent to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, is the first location in the world to be industrially polluted – (Photo: LIVE SCIENCE).
According to Live Science, researchers drilled into the ground beneath the streets of Cairo, located just 1 km from the Great Pyramid of Giza. This site is home to the world’s oldest port – the Khufu port.
Now, scientists confirm that this is the first place on Earth where humans caused metal pollution.
Metal pollution began to receive significant attention and study in the 20th century, although it may have first appeared and affected humans earlier, coinciding with the industrial revolution that transformed the world.
For a long time, the Egyptians along the Nile endured this situation due to the “timeless” development of ancient Egyptian civilization.
According to geochemist Alain Véron from Aix-Marseille University in France, the study aimed to search for ancient sediment layers to gain insight into the lives of 95% of the ancient Egyptian population.
These individuals were common folk, living lives vastly different from the elite found in lavish pyramids and tombs.
Located along a now non-existent branch of the Nile near the Giza Plateau, the Khufu port played a crucial role in material transportation and was the site of a significant copper tool manufacturing industry.
Some of these tools were even mixed with arsenic to enhance durability during production, including blades, chisels, and drills used for processing materials such as limestone, wood, and textiles.
Researchers employed inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure levels of copper and arsenic, as well as aluminum, iron, and titanium, with six carbon-14 datings to establish a chronological framework.
The study indicated that the onset of metal pollution occurred around 3,265 BC, suggesting that humans began living and working with metals in Giza over 200 years earlier than previously recorded.
Metal pollution peaked during the late pyramid construction period around 2,500 BC and continued until about 1,000 BC, with copper levels in sediments being 5-6 times higher than natural levels.
The authors noted that this indicates industrial activity on a “significant” scale.
This research provides deeper insights into how ancient Egyptians adapted to environmental challenges.
As the Nile River receded and the Khufu port diminished, metalworking activities persisted.
When the Nile reached its lowest level around 2,200 BC—a period marked by civil unrest and rumors of cannibalism—metal pollution levels remained high, indicating a robust infrastructure and resilient workforce.
