Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered a remarkably preserved industrial gold-refining workshop dating to the 18th Dynasty, the height of the New Kingdom. Located on the outskirts of the ancient capital of Memphis, the facility includes high-heat kilns and a rare collection of ceramic crucibles containing microscopic traces of gold and silver. The site appears to have been a state-run operation focused on purifying bullion for the royal treasury.
The workshop layout demonstrates an advanced understanding of metallurgy, with specialized ventilation shafts designed to reach the temperatures necessary for cupellation. Researchers also found stone molds for casting standardized gold bars and small votive figurines. This discovery clarifies how the pharaohs maintained the immense wealth depicted in royal tombs, revealing a sophisticated industrial infrastructure that supported the empire's economic dominance.