engleski

Tracing steps of the smelters: workspace organisation of a bloomery iron production workshop

Based on results of extensive field survey and results of geophysical research a complete bloomery iron production workshop was excavated at the Hlebine – Velike Hlebine site (1/2 7 – mid. 7th century) during 2016 and 2017. The site is situated at the edge of a flooding plain in lowland area of Upper Drava River basin, the Podravina region (NW Croatia). Bog iron ore, which naturally occurs in the region, was used for iron production. The workshop is located several hundred meters from the contemporary settlement, situated on an isolated elevated ridge. Based on analysis of archaeological features and metallurgical waste the workshop area was used for ore dressing, smelting as well as bloom refining. Spatial distribution of archaeological features and metallurgical waste indicates workspace organisation based on the character of activities undertaken and their order in the iron production sequence. The bloomery iron production was probably practiced periodically in series of smelting campaigns which can be recognized through patterns in waste discarding. Structured workspace organisation as well as range and sequence of activities undertaken on the workshop grounds raise questions about iron production organisation which are discussed.

bloomery iron production workshop ; workspace organisation ; iron smelting ; bloom refining ; Hlebine – Velike Hlebine

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