Excavations in roman Mediolanum have supplied much evidence of metalworking: this paper analyzes the case-study of the courtyard of the Università Cattolica, in the south-western suburbs, with particular regard to the methodology used. Metalworking evidence found here have been studied with a multi-disciplinal approach which has taken into account not only archaeometrical analyses, but also ethnoarchaeological parallels and the study of the written sources (epighraphic and literary). The aim was not only to understand technological aspects, but also to have an insight of their social and cultural environment.