The Bronze Age, as its name suggests, is a historical period characterised by an extensive use of bronze. The beginning of the Bronze Age differed from region to region and culture to culture, as it was heavily dependent on the discovery of tin mining, smelting, and its combination with hot copper. The result was a hardier and more durable metal, allowing Bronze Age civilisations to transition away from stone tools to metal tools. European Bronze Age farmers used horses and chariots to work, kept flocks of sheep to make woollen clothing, and used bronze as a standard commodity of exchange. The technological development that occurred in that time was rapid: the manufacture of tools and weapons increased and specialised equipment for shaving, woodworking and metalworking was created. Bronze awls were used as a crafting tool for perforating materials such as leather, bone, and wood, and to manufacture clothing and other implements.
To find out more about British Bronze Age please see our relevant blog post: Bronze Age in Britain.