On Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September 2008, we experienced at first hand the dramatic and fascinating process of prehistoric iron smelting. This was part of the Working Woodlands Weekend at Chambers Farm Woods near Bardney.
Jake Keen, a well known experimental archaeologist, carried out a prehistoric iron smelt at the Working Woodlands Weekend at Chambers Farm Woods as part of the Heritage Open Days Weekend on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September.
Archaeological evidence for iron smelting in the Iron Age and Roman periods is relatively common in Lincolnshire, but we still have much to learn about the technology and raw materials. Experimentation plays a key part in developing our understanding of this crucial prehistoric industry.
For the first time ever in Lincolnshire, we carried out prehistoric iron smelting. These experiments are both dramatic fascinating and useful – but rarely carried out because of the significant quantities of raw materials needed. Our shopping list included:
A small skip of clay!
250Kg of charcoal!
200Kg of iron ore!
On Saturday we managed to make a bloom of iron from iron ore collected from an old ironstone quarry at Harlaxton. Watch our short video of the iron smelting here.
Please note - depending on the strength of your connection, the video may take a short time before it is available to play. A small amount of the video has to be downloaded (or buffered) before it will start.
Jake Keen, a well known experimental archaeologist, carried out a prehistoric iron smelt at the Working Woodlands Weekend at Chambers Farm Woods as part of the Heritage Open Days Weekend on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September.