one PP question

filly

Copper was the first metal used by humans and is second only to iron into its utility through the ages.

I chose "into". I think it is right to correct "into" to "in". But a comment says that "the ages" is wrong and should be "ages". What is the right answer.

zhoushao

看看下面的解释ages [plural] also an age
a long time
Simon! I haven't seen you for ages . That recipe takes ages .
it's ages since/before/until etc something
It's ages since we've played that game.

这是偶从朗曼上找的，若表示很长一段时间看来是不加ＴＨＥ的