Few metal artifacts of Neolithic date occur in sites in southwest Asia, with the exception of Cayonu in Southeastern Turkey, where 40 have been found. Analysis shows that the Cayonu objects were made from native copper using a sheet metal folding technique. Some of the native copper srtifacts found in Mesopotamia, which are slightly later than the Cayonu material, are associated with sub-floor contexts, suggesting that they may have been a sort of proto-foundation deposit and therefore that concepts about the value of metals were developing. The evidence is, however, too slight to allow than speculation about the role of metals in the Neolithic period. Preliminaty analyses (PIXE) of the copper is provided. B/W photographs.