The inception of metallurgy in the southeast of pre-historic Europe is linked to three essential conditions: an increasingly distinct social differentiation, the accessibility of metal ore in the environment, and the creation of techniques for making fires burn hotter. This genuine Art of Fire, initially grounded in the experience acquired in the production of ceramics, is particularly apparent in the Gumelnita culture. In effect, the strong quality of baking, apparent in the majority of ceramic remains, indicates the mastery of high-temperature fires. This seems to be true as much for forced-air fire as for normal fire.