during the Hittites period, why is iron considered rare?

please give sources like websites

how is that even true?

the Hittites were part of the bronze age, meaning that the tech was not availiable to mine or forge iron

Iron was neither mined nor smelted by the Hittite Civilization to any great degree. They lacked the technology to mass produce sufficient quantities of the refined metal.

how is that even true?

the Hittites were part of the bronze age, meaning that the tech was not availiable to mine or forge iron

Iron was neither mined nor smelted by the Hittite Civilization to any great degree. They lacked the technology to mass produce sufficient quantities of the refined metal.