An archaeometallurgical study of early medieval iron technology : an examination of the quality and use of iron alloys in iron artefacts from early medieval Britain
This project presents a study of iron technology in Early Medieval (fifth to eleventh centuries AD) Britain through the examination of iron found in settlement contexts. This is a period characterized by significant cultural, political and social changes. The effect of these changes on iron technology has never been investigated on a large scale. Previous studies on iron focused either on individual sites or on single artefact types, and did not provide any clear multi-region interpretive framework. A longstanding problem has been in identifying the extent of usage of a key alloy: phosphoric iron. This research project examined iron assemblages from eight settlement sites of varying size, culture, economic and social status from across Britain. From each settlement a mixed assemblage of iron artefacts was sampled, including edged tools, items of personal adornment, construction materials, and craft tools. Analysis was by traditional archaeometallurgical techniques alongside SEM-EDS elemental analysis. Alloy usage, specifically relating to phosphoric iron, was examined and the manufacturing techniques assessed. It was shown that elemental analysis is the only reliable method to determine the presence of phosphorus
Rubinson, Samantha Rebecca
Iron ; Technology ; Early Medieval ; Metallography ; Smithing ; Alloys ; Phosphorus ; Manufacture ; Status ; Metallurgy ; Phosphoric iron
An archaeometallurgical study of early medieval iron technology : an examination of the quality and use of iron alloys in iron artefacts from early medieval Britain. This project presents a study of iron technology in Early Medieval (fifth to eleventh centuries AD) Britain through the examination of iron found in settlement contexts. This is a period characterized by significant cultural, political and social changes. The effect of these changes on iron technology has never been investigated on a large scale. Previous studies on iron focused either on individual sites or on single artefact types, and did not provide any clear multi-region interpretive framework. A longstanding problem has been in identifying the extent of usage of a key alloy: phosphoric iron. This research project examined iron assemblages from eight settlement sites of varying size, culture, economic and social status from across Britain. From each settlement a mixed assemblage of iron artefacts was sampled, including edged tools, items of personal adornment, construction materials, and craft tools. Analysis was by traditional archaeometallurgical techniques alongside SEM-EDS elemental analysis. Alloy usage, specifically relating to phosphoric iron, was examined and the manufacturing techniques assessed. It was shown that elemental analysis is the only reliable method to determine the presence of phosphorus
archaeometallurgical study early_medieval iron technology examination quality use iron alloy iron_artefact early_medieval britain project present_study iron technology early_medieval fifth eleventh_century britain examination iron find settlement context period characterize significant_cultural political_social change effect_change iron technology never investigate large_scale previous_study iron focus either individual_site single artefact_type provide_clear multi region interpretive_framework longstanding problem identify extent usage key alloy iron project_examine iron assemblage settlement_sit vary size culture economic_social status across_britain settlement mixed assemblage iron_artefact sample include tool item personal_adornment construction material craft tool analysis traditional archaeometallurgical techniques alongside sem_eds elemental_analysis alloy usage specifically_relate iron examine manufacture_technique assess show elemental_analysis reliable method determine presence