A very sizeable area round Tonglüshan in China was used for the mining of copper ores, and for smelting copper. There is evidence of use through the 9th to 1st century BC. Mines and 10 shaft furnaces were excavated. Analysis of ore and refractories, and descriptions of slag are presented, with a summary of radiocarbon and TL dates for the site. Experimental furnaces were built, and smelting experiments were carried out with similar raw materials. Iron could easily have been produced as well as copper under these conditions, but there is no evidence that it was, whereas the copper production was considerable. The technology for iron smelting derived from this area could have been used in other areas, however.