Iron : aspects of the industry during the Iron Age and Romano-British periods
Our knowledge of the earliest methods of iron production owes a great debt to 19th_century accounts of the bloomery technique as still practised in parts of Africa and Asia. Inevitably, and in common with other aspects of archaeology, many prejudices of that period have been perpetuated up to the present day in the literature. Additional bias has resulted from the influence of modern metallurgy. An attempt has been made to identify and correct these misconceptions in the light of new archaeological evidence in conjunction with recent smelting experiments. To enable a clearer understanding and interpretation of archaeological field remains, the bloomery process is fully explained in relation to furnace structures, ores and products, and the reduction process is illustrated with appropriate microstructures of the products. Roasting and smelting experiments have been used to test the viability of iron sulphide ores as ancient sources of iron. These iron pyrites and marcasite nodules are common over large parts of southern England. Sideritic and limonitic ores were also smelted. The experimental products, slags and iron, were analysed to assess the relationship between ores and slags, and the results tabulated.
Clough, Rodney E.
Archaeology
Iron : aspects of the industry during the Iron Age and Romano-British periods. Our knowledge of the earliest methods of iron production owes a great debt to 19th_century accounts of the bloomery technique as still practised in parts of Africa and Asia. Inevitably, and in common with other aspects of archaeology, many prejudices of that period have been perpetuated up to the present day in the literature. Additional bias has resulted from the influence of modern metallurgy. An attempt has been made to identify and correct these misconceptions in the light of new archaeological evidence in conjunction with recent smelting experiments. To enable a clearer understanding and interpretation of archaeological field remains, the bloomery process is fully explained in relation to furnace structures, ores and products, and the reduction process is illustrated with appropriate microstructures of the products. Roasting and smelting experiments have been used to test the viability of iron sulphide ores as ancient sources of iron. These iron pyrites and marcasite nodules are common over large parts of southern England. Sideritic and limonitic ores were also smelted. The experimental products, slags and iron, were analysed to assess the relationship between ores and slags, and the results tabulated.
iron aspect industry iron_age_romano british period knowledge early method iron_production owe great debt th_century account bloomery technique still practise part africa asia inevitably common aspect archaeology many prejudice period perpetuate present_day literature additional bias result influence modern metallurgy attempt_make identify correct misconception light_new archaeological_evidence conjunction recent smelting experiment enable clearer interpretation archaeological field remain bloomery process fully explain relation furnace structure ore product reduction process illustrate appropriate product smelt use test viability iron ancient_source iron iron common large_part southern_england ore also smelt experimental product slag iron analyse ass relationship slag