How did the iron industry in Southern Britain change from the Iron Age to the Roman period?
This thesis explores the transition between the Iron Age and Roman periods in Britain using one of the most survivable and data packed archaeological artefacts, iron smelting slag. By using a series of complimentary analytical methods it is possible to reconstruct the smelting process. Not just on a purely metallurgical level but also revealing some of the actions of the smelters. The transition from the Iron Age to the Roman period has been a longstanding area of discussion in European archaeology, marking the change from prehistory to protohistory. A geographical limitation has been placed on this study to southern Britain, this is to cover the area with the most complete coverage of archaeological sites and also with a distinct archaeological change between the two periods. The analysis of smelting slag at a macromorphological level reveals furnace morphology and operation. The microstructure of the slag examined using reflective light microscopy reveals under what conditions the slag solidified. The chemical composition of slag determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) reveals the inputs to the smelting process and through their interaction the temperature and
Crabb, Steven
How did the iron industry in Southern Britain change from the Iron Age to the Roman period?. This thesis explores the transition between the Iron Age and Roman periods in Britain using one of the most survivable and data packed archaeological artefacts, iron smelting slag. By using a series of complimentary analytical methods it is possible to reconstruct the smelting process. Not just on a purely metallurgical level but also revealing some of the actions of the smelters. The transition from the Iron Age to the Roman period has been a longstanding area of discussion in European archaeology, marking the change from prehistory to protohistory. A geographical limitation has been placed on this study to southern Britain, this is to cover the area with the most complete coverage of archaeological sites and also with a distinct archaeological change between the two periods. The analysis of smelting slag at a macromorphological level reveals furnace morphology and operation. The microstructure of the slag examined using reflective light microscopy reveals under what conditions the slag solidified. The chemical composition of slag determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) reveals the inputs to the smelting process and through their interaction the temperature and
iron_industry southern_britain change iron_age_roman period explores transition iron_age_roman periods britain use data pack archaeological_artefact iron_smelt slag use series complimentary analytical_method possible_reconstruct smelt_process purely metallurgical level also_reveal action smelter transition iron_age_roman period longstanding area discussion european_archaeology mark_change prehistory protohistory geographical limitation place study southern_britain cover_area complete coverage archaeological_site also distinct archaeological change period analysis smelt slag level reveals furnace morphology operation microstructure slag examine use reflective light_microscopy reveals condition slag chemical_composition slag determine use scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy sem_eds reveal smelt_process interaction temperature