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The current debate on critical raw materials lacks a historical dimension. While the idea of identifying certain raw materials as particularly problematic – and therefore critical – to future development is not a new one, a historical perspective has not yet been systematically integrated into the debate. This article explores concepts from history of technology to make suggestions about how we can better understand the ways in which reflection triggers and shapes material change. It discusses the concepts of social construction of technology (SCOT) and the development of technological systems, applying them to the debates on the criticality of wood and limestone during the age of industrialization.