 The history of joining metals goes back several millennia . Called forge welding , the earliest examples come from the Bronze and Iron Ages in Europe and the Middle East . The ancient Greek historian Herodotus states in The Histories of the 5th century BC that Glaucus of Chios " was the man who single @-@ handedly invented iron welding " . Welding was used in the construction of the Iron pillar of Delhi , erected in Delhi , India about 310 AD and weighing 5 @.@ 4 metric tons . 
