The questions about the early stages of development of iron technology
(the first millennium BC) in the Northern Pontic region are considered in the
article. Three traditions of iron making were identified: the Eastern European, the
Caucasian/Ancient Oriental, and the Hallstattian (Carpathian-Danube). It is important
to compare geochemical and technological features of the earliest iron items
belonging to different iron-making traditions and to determine the iron ore sources.
The precise analytical methods (Metallography, SEM–EDX, pXRF, XRD, m-CT)
were used for the determination of geochemical and mineralogical composition of
iron items and slags from the sites of Saharna Mare (Hallstatt tradition) and Tarasova
Balka (the Eastern European tradition). As a result of investigations, various iron
manufacturing technologies and used iron ore sources were determined.