It is believed that lead smelting began at least 9,000 years ago .
The oldest known artifact of lead is a statuette found at the temple of Osiris on the site of Abydos dated around 3800 BCE .
It is believed that lead smelting began at least 9,000 years ago , and the oldest known artifact of lead is a statuette found at the temple of Osiris on the site of Abydos dated around 3800 BCE .