The crouch position in which the woman's remains were found has been documented as early as 5500-4700 years ago.

We have no written evidence about how people lived in Europe during the Bronze Age (2300–800 BCE), so archaeologists piece together their world from the artefacts and materials they left behind.

As it happens, China controls about 40 per cent of rare metal production, though places such as Afghanistan are also generously endowed and would profit handsomely were it safe enough to exploit them.