COMITE POUR LA SIDERUR61E ANCIENNE de l 'Unlon Internatlonale dell Sclencell Prehllltorlquell et Protohllltorlquell

W U. Guyan, president R. Pleiner, secretaire

Si.e.ge du secretariat: Institut d'Archeologie, liB OI Prague 1, Letenska. 4. Repuhlique Tcheque.

Communication 59 Edited by R. Pleiner

DISTRIBUTION OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, The editor expresses his thanks for kindly sent contributions helping to cover the mail expenses:Fr.Toussain~.Dusseldorf:U.Zwicker.Erlangen. We have, until now. enough means to distribute the next issue being the 60th (30th anniversary of the Comite activity).

OBITUARY. During his holiday. spent in Austria, suddenly die D. Horstmann (73), a renowned German metallurgist who devoted. in course of the last decade. his time to services on behalf of the archaeome· tallurgy of iron: the detailed metallographic studies of Roman and early medieval display blades and, with a new approach. the investigation of iron slags: bloomery, finery and early blast furnace waste products from the Sauerland and Bergisches Land. He was a very active member of the Comite PSA and we much regret his passing since many research projects. realised by him. remained unfinished.

R. Pleiner

CONFERENCES:

JORNADA SOBRE SIDERURGIA ANTIGA was organized by the Societat Calalana de Tecnologia (at the Institut d'Estudias Catalans), E. TomiLs-Morera 7th OcLober 1996 in Barcelona. Four lectures were presented before a forum of Ca'talan and Spanish historians and metallurgists: R. Pleiner (Prague): Early Bloomery ProducLion in Central and Eastern Europe; C. Domergue {Toulouse}: Siderurgia antigua en Francia; A. Espeiwld: Ancient iron metallurgy in Norway, From the Known to the Unknown, deduction. induction and synthesis; Fr. Toussaint (Dusseldorf): Resumen de la siderurgia del BrasH desde 105 inicios en el siglo XVI hasta en inicio del siglo XX. The papers have been translated to Catalonian to serve as guide to the participants (see Bibliography 1996. p. 370).

BERGBAU UNO HOTTENWESEN IN BOHMEN was the subject of the 61st plenary session of the Geschichtsausschuss des VDEh, organized 6-9 November 1996 at the National Technical Museum, Prague, and headed by ,Fr. Toussaint and M. Toncourt. Programme: ,E. Mau.r,: Die Geschichte Bohmens von den Anfangen bis heute; ,R. Pleiner: Geschichte des fruhen Eisens in Europa uoter besondercr Berucksich­tigung von Bohmen und Mahren; ;. Majer: Geschichte des Bergbaus in Bohmeo; E. Maur: Geschichte des EiscnhOuenwesens in Bohmen - Mitlelalter uDd fruhe Neuzeit;]. KovaNk: Geschichte und Gegenwart der HOttenwerke iu Kladno. A. Hrbek: Geschichte des EiscnhiiLtenwesens in ' Bohmen - 19. 1ahrhundert. k. u, k. Monarchie; A. Hrbek: Geschichte des Eisenhouenwesens in Bohmen - 20. Jahrhundert einschlie­sslich der komunistischen Zeit nach dem Krieg; Z. Rasl: Die unbeweglichen Denkmaler des HtiLtenwesens in der Tschechischen Republik. - The lectures alternated with excursions: Kutna Hora (medieval town and mint in the Italian Yard), Kladno (steelworks. museum), Dobfiv (historical hammermill in operation), Komarov (Museum of decorative Cast Iron Work) Prihram (Mining Museum elc.). The participants were. German metallurgists, about 40 in number. R. Pleiner

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

Excavations ,

ANCIENT IRONWORKS AT LERCOUL (Ariege. France). In a traditional iron production area in the French Pyrenees {altitude l310 m} there was excavated an ironworks dated by calibrated radiocarbon measurements (60,9 %) to the period between AD 310 and 415. This revealed. in the Foret Royate (or Bedel. on a platform of about 100 m2

, three bloomery furnaces. They were rough-hewn in ~ schist rock

Comite No 59. AR 49, 1997 363

and equipped with stone-walled schist shafts, coated with an internal refractory lining (clay and crushed schist). The slagged furnace hearths measured about 60 cm in dia. Slag tapping channels were observed. The platform yielded a zone covered with hammerscale as well, which seems to be related to reheating and bloom forging operations. The site represents. until now. the first ancient evidence of ironmaking in this region. before later hammermills and Catalan forges have been introduced ..

In adition, several platforms of charcoal heaps in the Bede forest were excav~ted which are dating lrom the 6th, 9th , 12th-13th, 14th, 16th and post 17th centuries. The period between antiquity and the Renaissance was characterized by a beech forest mixed with fir , whi lst the latter dominates in recent times. After C. Dubois. Toulouse

Metalrosraphy

METALLOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF SELECTED LATE LA TENE PERIOD WEAPONS AND TOOLS FROM CELTIC OPPIDA. As a research project supported by the VW-Stiltung and in cooperation with the Romisch-Germanische Kommission, Frankfurt/M. (S. Sievers) there was realised metallographic examination of 15 items (4 spearheads. 5 swords, 4 knives called Ringgriffmesser. and 2 socketed axeheads) in the laboratory of the Archaeological Institute. Prague (R. Pleinerl. Detailed classical metallography. microhardness tests and bulk chemical analyses as well as numerous microchemical investigations (EDS) both of the metal matrix and slag inclusions (V. Ustohal. J. PttUkova, Brno) were carried out on polished specimens. The iron artefacts have been found in three European Celtic oppida. namely Stare Hradisko (Moravia, 2 swords. 2 spearheads). Manchiog (Bavaria, 4 knives. 2 exeheads. 1 sword) and Alesia (Burgundy. 2 swords). dating from the 1st century BC.

As to the sophisticated methods involving the iron-and-steel combination the hest artefacts constitute the spearheads and the axes (hard steel fM>ints and cutting-edges, axes hardened). The Ringgriffmesser. as preserved . were of differing medium quality. A certain disappointment were the swords. as seen from the poiDt of view of using hard steeled materials (only one blade from Stare Hradisko was of the iron-steel-iron sandwich scheme), but two examples distinguished themselves by other parameters. The blade fragment from Manching proved to be. after sectioning, a simple three-layer iron blade. but intentionally coated on both sides with a layer of 14 96 bronze (display or symbolic weapon?). One of the swords from Alesia. dating from the siege operations by Caesar in 52 BC. was also of wrought iron but it was manufactured by a strip-welding technique developing V-shaped welds in the core. as seen on sections. This technique belongs to the fami ly of pattern-welded blades; the strip-welded swords are aparently more frequent in the weslern part of lhe Celtic world.

There was a final manuscript with documentation delivered to the RGK, which includes a review of other metallographically investigated iron objects of the La Time period, and a discuss ion concerning the technological level and social status of the Late La Tene blacksmith both in the cenlral and peripheral areas. R. Pleiner. Prague

SmeltlnS experiments

In summer 1996 several smelting trials have been carried out but incomplele information is available at the present.

Through the courtesy of Mne M.-C. Frere-Sautot. director of the Archeodrome de Beaune. Burgundy. R. Pleiner took part at the firsl smelt. carried out in a large domed bellows-blown Curnace ol the CIerimois F 41 model, operated by Chr. Dunilrowski and Ph. Fluun (13-14 August 19961. The furnace.equipped with 3 air-inlets from hand-driven bellows (two situated aside the central manipulation opening and the third in the rear below the furnace throatl. yielded after 9 hours iron-and-slag coog!Qmerates adhering to the air-inlet mouths. Much of the internal space in the lower rear part of the shaIt remained dead. Apparently. the problem of large furnaces (more than I m in dial was the air supply. penetrating the maximum of lhe charge. 200 kg of charcoal wa consumed (106 kg during the smelting phase) , and 80 kg of iron ore. The analyses of the producl are in progress (Ph. Fluzin, SCvenans). The second smelt. in the same furnace but with differently situated air-inlets. took place on 16-17 August (Chr. Dunikowski, A. Ploquin). The parameters did not arrived from the team.

At LEJRE. Denmark, there was organized an iron smelter's meeting, announced for 22-28 1uly 1996 (Mrs H. Lyngstrlm). Sets of smelting trials were planned but no information has been communi· cated. R. Pleiner. Prague

364 Comite No .59, AR 49, 1997

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1991, 1993, '1994 (Supplements)

A. SpeclallZiCd Items

S. PAZDA: Brzcski rejon staroiylllcj metalurgii ic laza OV-V AD). Sludia Archeologiczne XXV, WrocBaw 1994. 186 pp. 65 figs .. 14 plates, The monograph deals with the region between WrocBaw. Opole and the Odra river in Silesia (ca 300 km2). This area yielded 1I5 Romano-Barbarian siles. 63 of which may be related to irournakillg. Two of them were excavated but only the first of them. Buczyce, is described and analyzed in de tail. It consists of two complexes: site 9 which is claimed lo be a smelting site. and site to representing a smithy se ttlement. Site 9 is characterized by 3-4 spols with burnt-red shallow depress ions and fragments of totally destroyed features which may he ruins of free-standing shaft furnaces. Unfortunately only fragmenls of clay walls and small slag pieces are announced among the debris and the insta llations were interpreted, by the author, in a hypothetical way (diameter 1- 1.5 m). Various depress ions and fireplaces are described as possible reheaters. charcoa l stores and iron ore supplies. The sccond place (site lO) reveals se\'eral very shallow sunken-floored huts. comprising three being interpreted as smithies (iron slags. so-called 'gri\pie' reacting on magnet, whetstones. iron nails etc.). No analyses are available so far.

Despite the fragmentary data survived. the author is inclined to draw far reaching conclusions concerning the capacity of local smelting activities {40 large capacity bloomery furnace supposed, yie lding, in 1200 smelts, some 132 tonnes of 'trade' iron, more than 100 kg iron per smelt}. So he takes account of an impact of producing groups in an area which was rarely inhabited up to the late Romano-Barbarian and early Migration periods. Among pottery finds wheel-made and wave-ornamented ware quite abundant. Contents (as e ntitled): Introduction; I Source material ; 11 Analysis of findings and phenomena on sites 9 and la in Buczycc; III Characteristic features of the Brzeg iron metallurgy region. Conclusion. Epilogue. Summary (pp. 179-181). Using the term 'pig iron' in the English translation is misleading.

H. WESTPHAL: Untersuchungcll an Sachsk lingen des sachsischen Stammesgebietes. lln German: Inves' tigation of sax-blades from the Saxon tribal territory!. Studien Iur Sachsenforschung 7 1991. 271-363. With contribution by D. Horstmunn: Metallographische Untersuchung an Sachsen mit gezahnter Zwis' chenlage IMetallographic investigation of saxes with serrated welds I, 364-365. In warrior graves of the 7th to 9th centuries (in England up to the 11 th century) appear saxes. single-edged weapons of high quality and significance. The variants occurring in NW Germany are discussed in the present study. Many of them arc equipped with different types of pattern-welded components, conceived ei ther as inlays on blade sides near the back. or as twisted bars between the hack and the cutting-edge. A specific family constitute few blades with serrated welds which are unknown in other parts of Germanic territories. The author tries. partly by the chronology of graves. to propose a rough 'technological' chronology (periods I-IV) according to the frequ ency of different darnas types. The pattern-welding. originally functional (resistance against bending) became soon a display or ornamental phenomenon. as the late Anglo-Saxon examples with non-ferrous imitations (inlays) confirm. The blades of many weapons treated were metallographically examined - their cutting-edges are mostly of steel. Replicas of two pattern-welded blades were manufactured in an experimental way. The author claims the saxes as thrusting weapons.

D. liorstman in his appendix deals with the technology of six known saxes with serrated welds. which are found at five sites. There was inserted a band of phosphoric iron (0.5 96 P) into the body of the blade: the weld with the cutting-edge was serrated (the optical effect of the phosphorus-rich inlay must have "been obvious). The hacks as well the cutting-edges were carburized. quenched and/or tempered. The serration is daimed to be of a mythical significance. (Note: serrated welds were observed on medieval knives from central Europe. e.g. Poland. R.P.) The sax from Stade-Kr:thenkoppc was nitridized.

B. History of Iron as mentioned In other publications (Suppl.)

BIBRACTE ET LES EDUENS - A la deeouverte d 'un peuple gaulois IIn French: Bibraete and the Aedui - Discoveries concerning a Gallic folkl. Errance Paris 1993. A book . summarizing the old and recent digs and find s of the ram~)Us Celtic Oppidum. On pages 111-112 there is a chapter devoted to the crafts (l 'artisanal), containing some re marks on the blacksmi th's activities according to the old find s. especially at the Come Chandroll mlley in the NE of the oppidum. Some blacksmith 's tools (hammer. anvil. tongs. file) photographed on pages 112-113: probably mid-first centnry BC.

Comite No 59. AR 49. 1997 365

C. DOSWALD, Zum Handwerk der Vici in der Nord- und Ostschwciz Icin vorkiiu[iger Oberblickl. IIn German: Craftsmen in the Gallo-Roman viei of Northern and Eastern Switzerland. A preliminary report!. Gesellschaft Pro Vindonissa. Jahresbericht 1993. Brugg 1994, 3-19. From 14 viei, small urban transit posts, which were the subject of the treatise. only in two could no craftsmen' activ~ty be stated. Among the rest 7 sites are evidenced to house at least two handicrafts. Most frequently ap~ar smithies. regularly attested by slag finds. which might be caused by the preservation possibilities of, evidences. In sum , 11 branches may be mentioned. very frequently e.g. woodand leather working. Iron sponges or blooms were worked within these seUlements. Tools (iocl. clips) from Oberwinterthur-Romerstrasse. a file chisel from Baden. The list of the sites with traces of the blacksmith's activity form an apendix.

R. HANG!. C. DOSWALD and K. ROTH-RUBI, Die [rilhen riimischen Kastelle und der Kastel-Vicus von Tenedo-Surzach. IIn German: The early Roman forts and the military vicus aut Zurzach-Tenedos, Ct. Aargau, Switzerland!. Pro Vindonissa 11 1994. On pages 159-176 one finds a paragraph on iron object and workshops, on pages 291-298 traces of the blacksmith's work are mentioned, the smithies were situated in houses VII and VIII. These passages are written by C.Doswald. The development of a castellum to a vicus during the 1st century AD. the decline in the 3rd century.

B. SOLBERG: Weapon Export from the Continent to the Nordic countries in the CarolingiaD Period. StudieD zur Sachsenforschung 7 1991, 241-259. Pattern-welded spear-heads as well as swords (and also the swords of Ulfberht mark) were exported to Scandinavia by Franks from the Carolinian Empire.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1995 (as In January 1997)

A. Spe:;/allzed Items

V. FELL IMrs), Metallographic examination o[ Iron Age tools from Somerset. Historical Metallurgy 29/1 1995. 1-11. Nine files and 3 hammerheads from Glastonbury {lake village. 3rd - 1st centuries BC}, Meare East and Meare West (settlements. the first from 2nd century BC - 1st century AD), and Ham Hill (hillfort. EIA la) were investigated. revealing mixed ferri tic, pearlitic and marten si tic structures of a·low carbon steellabout 0.3 % C).

GRUBENHUNT UND OFENSAU. Vom Reichtum der Erdc. Landcsausstellung HilttenberglKarnten 1995 11. Beitrage. Klagenfurt 1995. From the contents: P.Gleirscher: Spuren vorkeltischen Bergbaus auf Kupfer. Eisen und BJei in Karnten, 131-137. On iron cf. pp. 134-136. Slags from Tillmitsch in Styria. a carburized HallSlalt period knife from Frog . . G. Piccotlini: Zum romerzeitlichen Bergbau in Karntnen, 139-146. Written records from ancient times. abandoned mines at Hottenberger Erzber, Lolling, Klein S1. Paul. Moseldorf; Epigraphic monuments concerning the organization of iron production. M. J. Wenninger: Der Bergbau des Mittelalters, 147-153. Written and toponomastic sources from the 10th-15th centuries. G. Hod/.: Das IUirntner Bergbau in mittelalterHchen Urkunden, 155-157. Another contribution derived from written documents . . Fr. Claser: Norische RennOfen in Gortschitztal. 273-276. The first publication of La Tene period domed furnaces excavated in the vicinity of the oppidum of Magdalensberg: Moselhof. Raffelshof. Kischdorf. p. Horslmann: Ferrum Noricum - Herrstellung und Verarbeitung, 277-280. This important article has been quoted in No 57 of the Communications CPSA. H. VaLentinitsch: Die Eisenverarbeitung in Karnten in Vorindustrieller Zeit, 281-292. The development of urban smithies during the Middle Ages, especially iD Friesach. Gmund, Vil1ach. Ferlach. producing cutlery, wire. sheet and scythes. In postmedieval period (1671) one workshop (KischdorO delivered annualy 20-30 thousand scythes. H. Lackner: Das Karntner Eisenhuttenwesen vom Mittelalter bis ins 20. Jahrhundert, 293-316. The first SWckofen lor BlahoCen) appeared during the 12th-13th century. The Floss(i[en Iblast [urn aces) were introduced between AD 1600-1759.

HISl'ORICAL METALWRGY 29/1 1995 see V. FelL

D. HORSTMANN: Metallkundliche Untersuchungen an Klingen von zwei romerzeitlicheo Dolchen lIn German: Metallographic examination of two Roman dagger blades!. Ausgrahungen uod Funde in Westfa­len-Lippe 9/B, 111-135. A very detailed metallography of two pattern- or stripe-welded Roman officer's daggers from Haltern (see H. Westphal in the same volume. here p .... ) and Oberraden. This treatise was discussed in our Communication 57. AR 1996. p. 341.

366 Comite No 59. AR 49, 1997

K. E. S. SMITH (Miss): Iron-Working in North-West Wales in the late Fourteenth century. Archaeological Journa l 152 1995, 246-290. Archaeological and histori cal evidence related to the late medieval iron production. Slag heaps at Llwyn Du, Tap Mawr. Cae Cyrrach, disposition of a bloomery at Bryn Cefeiliau {charcoal store. furnace place. working pit, slag heap}. Medieval forges as mirrored in written documents, especially Minister 's Accounts. dealing with deliveries and transactions of iron iD uuits, of ·pieces·, probably representing a weight of 2 pounds.

V. SOUCHopovA (Mrs): Pocatky z.ipadoslovanskeho hutnictvi feleza ve svetle prame01.i z Moravy (Summary: The Beginning of the Metallurgy of Iron among Western Slays in the Light of Sources from MoraviaL Studie Archeologickeho listavu Akademie v~d e R XYII. Brno 1995. 119 pp .. 23 plate •.

This is a monograph evaluating the archaeometallurgical sources of the early ironmaJdng as published in eastern and central Europe and confronting them with the research results achieved in Moravia during the last decade. Contents: Preface . 3-5. I The metallurgy of iron in western and central Ukraine before Slavs. 6- 11 ; 100-101. Bloomery furnace finds and the problem of their dating. slag-pi t furnace clusters, some sunken-floored bloomeries. 11 Sources for the metallurgy of iron among Western Slavs. 12-34, 102-107. Different traditions in furnace construction: underground furnaces in the east. in Poland. Moravia (Zelechovice type), Hungary and Austria. Freestanding furnaces with shallow hearth, renaissance of a slag-pit furnace variant in Moravia (lOth century). III Bloomer y ironworks and the organization of labour. Problems of socia l inter-relations. 35-39; 107-109. Extensive and intensive ironworks, smelters' families, delive ries in iron. IV Iron ore mining. dressing and preparation of other raw materials. 40-49: 102- 112. Potential iron ore resources in central European areas involved. evidence of ore roasting, charcoal burning in the west Moravian iron production district. Structural materials. clay. sand. stone. Refractory linings. V The bloomery process and experimental smelts, 50-60; 112-113. Experiments by KolCin in Novgorod. trials with the stee l making in the Zelechovice furnace (Pleiner) and with various types as discovered in the Blansko region (StranskY. Souchopova et al.). VI Smelters and blacksmiths, 61-67; 114. Working of blooms. smithing slags. hearth protection shield of clay, elements of blacksmith 's work in metallurgical sites. Great Moravian smithies of the 9th century IMikulCice. Stare Mesto) , ironworking in rural and urban smithies (Prague-Bethlehem chapel. Mikullice. Stare Mesto. Pobedim. Mulejovice. Boritov. Kamionka Nadbuilla. Lebedka. Belaya Vezha. Ekimaucy). VII The products of Slav ic bloomeries , 68-73; 11 5-118. The iron sponge and the bloom. sections. split-blooms as found in bloomeries (Olomueany. Somogyfajsz). Iron bars and currency bars (axe-shaped bars from SIavic te rritories, hoards (Krak6w. about 4 tonnes). small axe-shaped bars in smithies (Stare Mesto). Other types of billets (discs. rods elc.). VIII Tool and implements of bloomery ironworks, 74-76; 118-119. Di ver se find s of shovels. chisels, spikes. whetstones as found in bloomeries. Woodworking tools. IX Conclusion, 77-84;

Vera Souchopova presents much of information related to the topic inscribed in the title. As to furnace models distribution she discusses the installation with thin frontal wall {Moravia 9th century, 1 llh- 12 th centuries in Hungary and Slovakia}. The view expressed by GomOri who seeks to find the origin of the type in the Yenisey valley in Asia is claimed as open for furthcr discussions. The type was quite effective - according to Ila ramctcrs achieved at Olomu{:,any. W Moravia. one furnace could produce about 1 tonne of slag and cOll sume about 90 tuyere nozzles. It is poss ible that its appearance was actually in the regions mentioned in periods of certain economic risc. Similarly she deals with the free-standing shaft furnaces of the Nemesker type (Moravia, W. Hungary). Mutual penetration of iron smelting practices took place among Slavic. Avar and early Hungarians smelters in central Europe. Carpathians and Paullonia during the 9th- 12th centuries. The local return of the slag-pit furnace in the B1ansko region during the 10th century must have heen a rctardant episode.

H. WESTPHAL: Ein romischer Prullkdolch aus Haltern. Untersuchungen zur Schmiedetechnik und KOllstruktion IIn German: A Homan display dagge r from Haltern . Investigations into the blacksmith 's technique and construction!. In : Ausgrabungen und FUllde in Westfalen-Lippc 9/8 1995, 95- 109. A detailed treatise concerning thi s weapon the blade of which is made hy strip-welding (Lamellen- or Streifendamast). Sophisticated hilt construction.

8IBLlOGRAPIIY 1996 {as In January 1997}

A. Speclal/;ed Items

D. ANKNER: Zur Damaszierung der Spathen aus Altenerdillg. (In Gennan: Pattern-welded spathae from Altenerdingl. In: H. Helmuth. D. Allkller and H. J. HUlldt: Das Reihengrahe rfeld von Altenerding in

Comilt! No 59. AR 49. 1997 367

Obcrbayern·II. Mainz 1996, 144-145. The second volume of the publication of the Migration Period/Early Medieval row-arranged inhumation cemetery contains a treatise dealing with the long swords of that time. the .spathae. From 40 items in the graves. 28 were pattern-welded (twisted damas), 1 strip-welded with pattern-welded inlays (Furnier) and 2 simple strip-welded. The so-called rosette dam as, alternating strip-and-twist damas and inlays in shape of S (swordsmith's symbol?) occur aswell. The pattern welded swords apear around AD 500 but very abundant they are in the III and IV peAods of the cemetery (6th - 1st half of the 7th century AD). Contemporary swords from Germany include 82-85 % of pattern-welded blades. whilst the simple examples are rare.

Chr. BRUNNENGMBER aDd W GAITlSCR ADtikes EiseD. KODservierung und Auswertung eines umfangreichen romischeu Hortfuudes aus Aldenhofen-Pattern. Kr. Duren. IIn German: Ancient iron. Conservation and evaluation of a large Roman hoard from Aldenhofen-Patternl. Das Rheinische Landes­museum Bonn - Berichte aus der Arbeit des Museums 3/96. 56-62. During the open-cast coal mining at Inden. near the village of Pattern, 500 iron objects came to light (246 artefacts and more than 200 atypical fragments), the weight of which is about 350 kg. The objects originate in two pits (distance 25 m) and are supposed to be a store of a smith, involving scrap iron. His workshop must have been in the close vicinity. Of special interest are two anvils of 50 kg weight each, agricultural implements and waggon mountings (comprising ornated elements such as dolphin symbol), as well as parts of a Roman water-driven mill, bronze-coated kettle bell etc. The date of the complex is estimated as the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. The conservation of such an amount of articles, covered with chloride-containing corrosion. raises difficulties. It is being carried out at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn.

EISEN UND STAHL EROBERN DIE RUHR IIn GermaD: IroD aDd Steel CODquering the Ruhr Valley ). Technikgeschichtliche Vortragsveranstaltung des Geschichtsaussusses des VGEh Dortmund 28.-30. Sep­tember 1995. Dusseldorf 1996.83 pp. Among papers of the Dortmund meeting following items concern the ancient and early iron making: I D. Horstmann: Eisenverhutlung im Markischen Sauerland (Vorbericht eines Forschungsvorhabens der VW-Stiftung). 21-28. Iron smelting started in the 8th century AD. after 1200 the indirect process was gradually introduced (about 120 Floss(Jjen sites registered). Old bloomery slag used to be added in the fining operations. Subsequent attivity of fineries {Markische Osemundfris­chen} . . Chr. Willms.: Archaologische Untersuchungen zur fruhen Eisengewinnung im Markischen Sauerland (Vorbericht eines Forschungvorhabens der VW-Stiftung), 29-43. Several sites investigated. involving bloomeries as early blast furnace plants as well (Fernhagen. Kerspe dam. Wippertal. Wienhagen). Whilst in the Labn-DiIl area the indirect ironmaking started, in the Sauerland one observes the decline of the initial boom . . H. Fell: Geschichte der Sundwiger Eisenhiitl.e. 44-48. The so-called osenu.md iron was the best for wire making. reflection on the term osemund as in the written documents.

EISENGEWINNUNG UND -VERARBEITUNG IN DER GERMAN lA MAGNA. IIn German: IroD making and working in the eastern Germania Magnal. Ethnographisch-Archaologische Zeitschrirt {Berlin} 1996/3, 329 pp. This volume of the EAZ is mostly devoted to the symposium held in Berlin 26-27 April 1996. Contents: R. Pleiner.: Das fruhe Eisen: von der Kleinwaagemengen zu der aitesten Industrie. 281-291. The development of the effectivity of ancient ironmaking in the Near East and Europe from the 5th millenium BC up to the European La ~~ne period in the light of individual outputs (from shekels to talents and tonnes) . . K. Bielenin: Fruhgeschichtliche EisenverhiiUung in Heilig-Kreuz-Gebirge (G6ry Swif;tokrzyskie). Allgemeine Bemerkungen, 293-308. The last survey of results achieved in the Roma­no-Barbarian iron smelting region of the Holy-Cross-Mountains in Poland with remarks concerning other central and nortb European production areas. D. Horslmann (I). H. L. Knau and M. 5(Jnnecken: Die Roheisenerzeugung im Oberen Volmetal. 309-324. The date oc" the introduction of the indirect process into the Markisches Sauerland (W Germany) is being considered as the 12th century AD (according to dated archaeological features and analysed slags). P.T.A. de Rijk: Eisenverhuttung und Eisenverarbeitung im nordwestlichem Elbe-Weser-Raum. 325-364. 24 slag sites. the hlacksmith's workshop of Feddersen­Wierde (Romano-Barbarian). J. Schneeweis: Die vor- und fruhgeschichtliche Eisenverhiittung und -verarbeitung im ostlichen Wesergebiet. 511 sites (287 dating from the pre-Roman to the Slavic periods). Smelting furnaces and ironworks from Hebzdorf (end of the 1st century BC) and Lebehn (Romano-Bar­barian period). Maps . . C. Wetuol: Einige Beispiele zur germanischen Eisenverhutlung zwischen Schwarzes Elster und Neisse, 365-373. 200 sites discovered in the area of Cottbus (Lusatia), some of them being unorganized clusters (e.g. Bahren. Elsterwerdal. An 'organized' cluster of slag-pit furnaces appeared at Merzdorf. A. Knnack (Mrs): Germanische und slawische Eisenverhultung in RepteD. Niederlausitz. 375-381. A survey of discoveries having been already announced in literature. A Romano-Barbarian ironworks with a slag-pit furnace cluster and a Slavic bloomery remains. /. Spazier (Mrs): Wolkenberg

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- eiu aeues VerhOuungslentrum in der Niederlausilz, 383-394. 600 slag-pit furnaces, charcoal pits, cf. Comm. in AR 1997/ 1, pp. 157-158. S. Berg-Hobon (Mrs): Germanische EisenverhtiUung am Rand des Oberspreewaldes, 395-398. 1.6 t of slag within a Romano-Barbarian settlement at Goritz. J. Schuster: Die Westgrenze der Wielbark-Kultur uud das Problem der Einfliisse aus dem ostlichen Pmorze, 399-422. A non-archaeometallurgical item ..

A. ESPELUND: Archao-Metallurgie, von Norwegen aus betrachtet. IIn German: Archaeometallurgy as seen from Norway!. Ferrum - Nachrichten aus der Eisenbibliothek. Stiftung der Georg-Fischer AG, Schaffhausen. No 68 1966,43-53. The paper is based on the author's investigation and experimentation with sources from the Trlndelag an;:-a. pointed to the early irou smelting. As a metallurgist he expresses his ideas on basic principles of the bloomery process consisting, in his view. of four basic phases: reduction, sintering. carburizing (under oxidizing conditions of wustitic and fayalitic slag) and tapping of this slag under temperatures about 1150 0c. He is inclined to believe that the goal of ancient and medieval smelters was to obtain a malleable. soft and carbon-poor metal. Following this premise he criticizes the results by H. Straube achievetl during his experiments i 1964 and showing the possibilities of production of the Norician steel (recently see the annotation on his book from 1995 in Comm. 58. AR 1997/1; in the light of the complex data some of Espelund's arguments are hardly valid). His criticism is. however, pointed to teories expressed by some Swedish metallurgists. In sum. as to the mechanism of the bloomery process. he misses detailed analysis in the field of the thermodynamics. As an appendix there is an information on an examined bloom from a site north of Trondheim (9.3 kg) which contains up to 0.7 96 C and should by dated to AD 390-545 according to radiocarbon measurements.

EUROpAISCHE TECHNIK IM MITTELALTER - Tradition und Innovation (In German: The European Technology in the Middle Agesl (Uta Lindgren ed.), Gebr. Mann Berlin 1996. This is a volumninous handbook devoted to medieval crafts and technologies in Europe. From the point of ferrous metallworking and metallurgy following chapters are concerned: J. Woiters: Drahtherstellung im Mittelalter. 205-216. Wire manufacture in Middle Ages, forged. cut and drawn wire. iron wire in France 1268; U. Koch (Mrs): Damaszieren von Waffen, 217-220. Pattern-welding on weapons, blades and lance heads, principal systems; R. Pieiner: Vom Rennfeuer zum Hochofen. Die Entwicklung der Eisenverhiittung. 9.- 14. Jahrhundert. 249-256. A short survey of European medieval ironmaking. various types of bloomery furnaces of different origins point to be integrated by a tall shaft installation which developed during the 12th-14th centuries to the blast furnace prototype. W. TiUman: Die importierte Innovation: China. Europa und die Entwicklung der Feuerwaffell. 317-336. The early development of missile throwers and firearms in Asia and Europe. forged and cast iron gun barrels as in iconography and museums.

LE FER: Repertoire bibliographique. Mines et metallurgie anciennes de rEst de la France et de Suisse (c. Ber(:ot et M. Mangin eds .. in co-operation with M. Leroy and V. Serneels), UPR 0423 Paleometallurgie et Cultures. Inst. Poly technique de Sevenans. Besancon 1995. 39 pp. This bibliography. concerning the ancient and medieval archaeometallurgy in eastern France and Switzerland comprises about 2000 items concentrated in following regional entities: I Generalites (Bourgogne. Franche Comte. Lorraine), 4-7; 11 Bourgogne. 8- 15; III Franche Comte, 16-25; IV Lorraine. 26-33; V Suisse (bibliographie selective). 34-39. The bibliography involves the geological literature as well (ore resource systems). Some items are dealing with post-medieval periods. Papers and books edited since the mid-19th century may be found and many contributions being in press are added. The effort of the editors was to take into account also articles in various regional journals which are not easily tracable.

J. GOMORI: Ezerszas eves vasasok.lIn Hungarian: Iron smelters lIOO years agol. Etet es tudomany 51-36 1996. 1160-1163. A popular account of some data achieved during the research of the early Hungarian iron production sites. but in involves a plan of the bloomery at Somogyfajsz, which comprises 21 em banked furnaces in the walls of a gradually developed working pit (ca 7 x 13 rn, the length being incomplete). with a slag dump. ore and charcoal stores etc. Further, the reconstruction of two iron ore mining pits at Kophaza is added. Dating: the IOth-ll th centuries AD.

J. GOMORI: 10. szazadi vasolvast6 rnOhely Sornogyfajszon IIn Hungarian: 10th century iron smelting workshop at Somogyfaszl. Kohaszat ballayaszati cs kohaszati lapok (Mining and Metallurgy Journal). 129 1996 (Budapest). 270-279. The volume is 'devoted to the mille-centenary of the Hungarian iron smelting industry and the paper involves information on the Avar-period bloomeries at 'lamardi and. above all, the large iron smelting site at Somogyfajsz (21 em banked furnaces in the walls of a working depression, slag deposit, ore and charcoal stores. several iron blooms (loaf-shaped), clay tuyere nozzles. Above the

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most important eastern part of the working place there was erected a pavilion as a museum. Details on that structure are presented in a leaflet edited by the Dunaferr-Somogyoszag, Archaeometallurgical Foundation under the title Open-Air Museum Somogyfasz - 10th century Iron-smelting Workshop.

JORNADA SOBRE SIDERORGIA ANTIGA. Preprints 01 the lectures given at Barc:,lona 7th Oct. 1996, Societat Catalana de Tecnologia (Institut d'estudia Catalan). The translation in Catolanian of the papers presented during the Day of Ancien Ironmaking: R. Pleiner: La primitiva producti6n de forje en la Europa central et oriental. 1-12. C. Domergue: La siderurgia antigua en Francia, 13-15. A. Espelund: La antigua metalurgi a del hierro en Noruega. De 10 conocido a 10 desconocido: Deducci6n, inducci6n y sintesis. 16-35 . . F. Toussa;nl: Resumen de Historia Siderurgica del Brasil (desde son origenes en el siglo XVI hasta cl principio del siglo XXI. 36-77.

H. L. KNAU and M. SONNECKEN; Neue Fundc zur IndustriearchAologie von Schloss Neuenhol bei LOdenscheid. Ein Beitrag zur Eisengeschichte des oberen Elspetales und zur Bedeutung der v. Neuhoff­Ley (In German: New finds related to the industr ialarchaeology at Schloss Neuenhof near Lodenscheid. A contribution to the history of iron in the upper Elspe river valley and the importance of the v. Neuhoff-Ley). Der Marker 45 1996. 201-203. Reconnaissances concerning the hammermills in the environment of the Neuenhof castle. blast furnace IFlossofen) slags dating from the 13th-14th centuries. Fineries using old bloomery slags in the working process. continued after the abandonment of local Flosslif en to work imported iron from Siegerland and Oberbegisches Land. The role of the noble famil y von Neuhoff-Ley in the local iron industry.

LEHRSTUHL WERKSTOFFWISSENSCHAFT (METALLE), 25 JAHRE IIn German; Lectureship Tes ting of Materials (Metals)). (H. W. Bergmann and U. Zwicker eds. ). Friedrich-Alcxander-University Erlangen­Nornberg. Erlangp.n. sine anno (1996). A guide to the education and research programme of the Materials Department on the oportunity of its 25th anniversary. There is much of archaeometallurgical interest included. both in the programmes and bibliography. dealing from a greater part with the ancient non-ferrous metallurgy (incI. numismatics); nevertheless several items are devoted to the working of iron.

L. E. NARMO: Jernvinna i Valdres og Gausdal - et fragment av middelalderens Ikonomi (Summary in English with no title Oronmaking in the Valdres and Gausdal areas - a fragment of medieval economyH. Oslo 1996, 239 pp .• 83 figs. The monograph represents a thesis analysing th~ technology, organization and economy of the production of iron in eastern Norway between AD 1000 and 1350/ 1400 and deals with specific bloomery sites accompanied with charcoal pits (denoted as JKS). The tex t is divided into 8 main chapters with a very detailed subdivision: Forord. I Inledning; 2 Forskningshistorie (i ncl . characteristic of furn ace types and charcoal pi ts); 3 Bruksmlnstre i jernvillua i Gausdal of Valdres. med exempel Cra Dokk£l ly; 4 Fire utgvarde JKS i DokkfI1y; 5 Bosetning - Jernvinna: 6 Jernproduksjon som husflid eller hygdehandverk?; 7 Registrerte JKS; Bygdeha'H'crker eller Handverkshygda? Summar y. LiUeratur. Appendix (schematic plans of some sites).

From a very short summary (pp. 197-1 99) it is possihle to mention the following abridged data: There were four fully excavated JKS sites in Dokkflly. a long mountain valley in Oppland, and another 115 sites were localized in Valdres and Gausdal. Before the Black Death depopulation of Norway (14th century) there were two types of furnaces applied. namely the shaft slag-pit model (I m dia.l and the tapped shaft furnace (diameter about 40-50 cm). The big diameter of the first type is suggested to be in connection with the charcoal burning inside the pit before the bog ore was added (200 BClA D 600-700). (This technology seems to be speculati"e, indeed). For the second, slag-tapped model, the charcoal used to he prepared in separate pits (AD 700-14(0). Adjacent slag heaps were poured aside the furnaces. The sites with the JKS are radiocarbon dated before AD 1000. One JKS site was in operation several years and produced between 19 an 180 kg of unworked iron, 36 kg annually. in average) which was more than the normal consumption in a farm . The iron must have been produced for market. just in order to secure the needs of population. The cause of the production decrease after the Black Death can be explained hypothetically in dillerent ways.

The book represents the results of a laborious work, reconnaissances and digs. However. the detailed arguments is difficult to follow in the Norvegian text. The charcoal pits with diameters around 4 m are rather to be held for sunken floors oC charcoal piles or heaps. The suggested technology of slag-pit furnaces would deserve a detailed analysis.

S. nOBERT: Plackerei am Einwegofen IIn Cerman: Drudgery at a one-smelt furna ceJ. Der Spiegel 44 1996 (Die Eisenmetallurgie der Germanen), sine rag. A popular one page account, very simplified, of

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the Germanic ironmaking during the Romano-Barbarian period. beil:lg in contrast with the picture of the Roman iron industry. Slag-pit furnaces mentioned (apparently according to information from Joldelund, NW Germany and the Varde area in Denmark).

Fr. TOUSSAINT: Wo wurde das Eisen "erfundcn"? (In German: Where was iron ·invented'?). Fischbacher Hehe fur Geschichte des Berg- ulld Huttenwesens 212 1996. 130-132. Brief reflection concerning the problem of the cradle of the iron metallurgy. mentioning some unbelievable French radiocarbon dates not specified. from Africa (3rd-2nd millenia BC ?).

G. WlELAND: Die Spatlatenezeit in Wurttemberg. (In German: The late La T~ne period in Wurttemherg. Germanyl. Theiss. Stuttgart 1996. Chapters 1l.5.2. and Il.S.3 (pp. 67-68) mentions a hoard of iron objects. incl . those containing bi-pointed iron ingots and bars. The renowned hoard of Cappel. formerly published hy Fisher. conta ined items of larger dimensions. e.g. elements of fire-dogs. The reason of burying these quantities of iron is hardly to understand in individual cases because of lack of records elucidating the find circumstances (treasure. votive deposit etc.).

Z DEJIN HUTNICfVi 25 (In Czech with summaries i.n German: Papers on the History of Metallurg~l. Rozprav y Narodniho techllickeho muzea v Praze 142. Praha 1996. 80 pp. Papers presented at the XXXVth Seminar on metallurgy 8th Nov. 1996. Following items concern the ea rly metallurgy of iron: V. Souchopoud IMrs): Nove niihledy na objev kovarny v jeskyni Byci skala (Neue Ansichten uber die Entdeckung einer Schmiede in der Hohle Byci skiila). 6-9. The documentation from 1872 does not allow to solve the problem of internal relationship between the famous Late Hallstatt buriaUsacrificial place and the iron tools (and slag) found in the Byei skala cave (Hammers. a half of a bi-pointed iron bar etc.). L '. Mihok and A. Bribuloud (Mrs) and J. Labuda: Studium stredov~kych metOd vyroby ieleznych prcdmetov z lokality Jlanska Stiavnica (Forschung miUelalterlicher Methoden der Herstellung von Eisengegenstanden auf dem Gehie von Banska Stiavnica-Stare Mesto ISchemnitz-AlstadtD. 10-17. 14 objects examined. mostly iron fittings from the 14th century. A knife with welded-on and quenched cutling-edge.

The oilIer papers deal with pQ$t-medIeval metaUurgy 0/ Iron.

U. ZWICKER: Ein Werkzeugstahl des Saturninus IIn German: The tool steel of SaturninusL Bayerische Vorgeschichtsblatter 61 1996,245-246.4 plates. Two iron hars from a ship wreck found off the Corsican coast near Bonifacio investigated. The one. rectangular in section. was proved to be of ferritic iron (50 x 50 x 230 mm. 93 HV3J. The other One, a flat piece 130 x 125 x 130 mm) bear three of SATURN1N IUSI and two circular punch-marks. This is hard carhon steel (0.9 - 1.0 % Cl with pearlite and perliteicementite, hardness 182 + 4-3 HV3). No manganese was stated; the author is inclined to admit the Elban provenance of this steel.

H. History of Iron as mentioned In other publications (1996).

H. KOLLER und C. DOSWALD, Aquae Helyeticae - Baden. Die GrabungeD Baden Du Pare 1987/88 uud ADD 1988. lIu German: The excavations of 1987 and 1988 at the Roman view of Baden-Aquae Helveticae. Ct. Aargau. Switzerland). Pro Vindonissa 13 1996 (Brugg). The iron objects are treated by C. Doswald on pp. 136- 184. 210-211 (tools. raw material, debris, slag, smithies in the area ABm. As to the site Baden-R6merstrasse. slag of the Augustean period prove the smithing activity which belonged to the infrastructure of such a Ga llo-Roman seulement.

Ackllowledgement: The editor thanks to all colleagues who provided him with papers. book and information ou their work in progress. Peter Crew, Maentwrog. was so kind and read the manuscript of the present issue.

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