| Abstract: |
Fifteen of the twenty-two papers are abstracted here. Henry Cleere (1-6) introduces the volume with 'Ironmaking in the economy of the ancient world: the potential of archaeometallurgy'; improved methodologies in excavation and research would allow archaeometallurgy to contribute more fully to the discipline of archaeology. R Maddin (7-17) on 'The early blacksmith' finds that iron objects were being produced in volume and diversity from 1200 BC, but a blacksmith's secrets were guarded and his success probably attributed to reasons not founded on metallurgical theory. R E Clough (19-27) takes 'The bloomery process - observations on the use of rich ores and the production of natural steel', using experimental and ethnographic material to examine and reinterpret evidence; the skilled smith could manipulate furnace conditions to produce a natural steel. Peter Kresten (29-33) on 'The ore-slag-technology link: examples from bloomery and blast furnace sites in Dalarna, Sweden' uses chemical variation diagrams to determine whether ores found at production sites could have been used in the process. J G McDonnell's 'Study of early iron smithing residues' (47-52) dispels some confusions fallen into by archaeologists. E M Nosek & A Mazur (53-9) discuss 'The oxidation of iron-carbon alloy at low temperature': corrosion and natural ageing processes in archaeological artefacts hold great interest for modern metallurgists. Janet Lang (61-72) has studied 'The technology of Celtic iron swords', using eleven blades from England and six from the Continent: developments in technology were seen, the Celtic swords being more effective than the Romans allowed. Patrick Ottaway (83-6) has classified some 300 'Anglo-Scandinavian knives from 16-22 Coppergate, York', while J G McDonnell (87-9) discusses 'The metallurgy of Anglo-Scandinavian knives' based on X-rays and sections of five examples. 'Bryn y Castell hillfort - a late prehistoric iron working settlement in northwest Wales' is described by Peter Crew (91-100) describing the structures which yielded over 650Kg of residues dating to 100 BC to AD 70 and AD 150-250, respectively. Robert M Ehrenreich (105-12) has made 'A study of iron technology in the Wessex Iron Age', using a Camebex electron microprobe, optical metallurgical microscope, and Vickers Hardness tester; 279 artefacts and 224 controls were examined, the results suggesting deliberate selection of phosphoritic iron, absence of Iron Age carburizing and heat treatment, and patchy distribution of expertise. In 'The status of the blacksmith in early Ireland', B G Scott (153-6) finds textual evidence for the elevated status of some smiths, and a strong element of mysticism. J Piaskowski (157-68) makes 'Proposals for a standardization of the criteria for determining technological processes in early iron and steel metallurgy', and in a second paper offers 'A standardization procedure for the presentation of the results of metallographic examinations of early iron implements' (169-78) with cross-lingual publication in mind. R Pleiner (179-80) asks for basic data in discussing 'Problems in the standardization of metallographic investigations of archaeological iron objects'. |
