Early iron smelting in Nsukka-Nigeria : information from slags and residues
The presence of large and diverse quantities of iron smelting residues indicates that iron smelting was practised in Nsukka. Unfortunately most of the present inhabitants of Nsukka do not know how the residues originated. Although some of the residues are indestructible, there is urgent need to study them now as they are either being quarried away for constructions or bulldozed to give way for development projects. Hence an attempt was made in this research to study iron smelting inÂ· Nsukka through the analyses of the residues. Three investigation techniques were used during this research. These are ethnographic investigation, archaeological and analytical techniques. The analyses were conducted at two levels, morphological and microscopic. Carbon samples were processed to give carbon14 dates and to identify species. The dates show that iron was smelted in Nsukka from about 765 cal. BC to about 1950 cal. AD. During this period, the industry passed through three distinct technological phases. The study of the results of the slag, iron ore and the slag-inclusion analyses show that Nsukka iron smelters smelted local goethite and haematite in shaft furnaces. Initially the high presence of Al2O3 in the iron ores
Okafor, Edwin Eme
Early iron smelting in Nsukka-Nigeria : information from slags and residues. The presence of large and diverse quantities of iron smelting residues indicates that iron smelting was practised in Nsukka. Unfortunately most of the present inhabitants of Nsukka do not know how the residues originated. Although some of the residues are indestructible, there is urgent need to study them now as they are either being quarried away for constructions or bulldozed to give way for development projects. Hence an attempt was made in this research to study iron smelting inÂ· Nsukka through the analyses of the residues. Three investigation techniques were used during this research. These are ethnographic investigation, archaeological and analytical techniques. The analyses were conducted at two levels, morphological and microscopic. Carbon samples were processed to give carbon14 dates and to identify species. The dates show that iron was smelted in Nsukka from about 765 cal. BC to about 1950 cal. AD. During this period, the industry passed through three distinct technological phases. The study of the results of the slag, iron ore and the slag-inclusion analyses show that Nsukka iron smelters smelted local goethite and haematite in shaft furnaces. Initially the high presence of Al2O3 in the iron ores
early_iron smelt nigeria information slag residue presence_large diverse quantity iron_smelt residue indicate iron_smelt practise unfortunately present inhabitant know residue originate although residue urgent need study either quarry away construction give_way development project hence attempt_make study iron_smelt analyse residue investigation technique_use research ethnographic investigation archaeological analytical_technique analysis_conduct two_level morphological microscopic carbon sample process give carbon date identify specie date show iron_smelt cal cal period industry pass three_distinct technological phase study slag iron_ore slag inclusion analysis_show iron smelter smelt local shaft furnace initially high presence iron_ore