Prehistoric Iron Smelting Demonstration

Experimental archaeologist Jake Keen demonstrates some of the concepts of iron smelting in a bloomery furnace using techniques believed to have been used during the British Iron Age. The demonstration was part of Wessex Archaeology's annual practical archaeology course.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• archaeology
• metal
• iron
• experiment

[tonation87]

because clay is a very heat resistant material. They actually put ceramic plates on the outside of the space shuttle to help against re entering the earth's atmosphere.

[OutdoorsBlackMan]

Maybe because the fire isn't hot enough to melt the clay?

That's my logic.

[mas2ery]

can anyone explain, what did they use before there was IRON BARS or anvils? did they let the iron flow onto a wooden stick or a long bone until it cooled and used it as the first HAMMER TO bang out the next flow of iron into a rod? or was a rocks the hammer and anvil? I want to know!!!!

[EvilStreaks]

I want to remix the bellow noise.

[PICLex]

Love the sound of the bellows.

[50diz]

@joehunt1980 while that is true, they beat the bloom because its very pourus and you want to get it solid so you can work with it

[joehunt1980]

I think they used to beat the iron bloom when it comes out from the furnace because the differential in cooling from the inside and outside will make a void appear in the centre as it cools... Also apparently it forces some of the remaining impurities out of the iron.

[sonnetxi]

@music1account lol why would you need iron in post apocalypic world. and its takes alot of mining and smelting to get only a little bit of iron

[XantherBlaze]

I doubt cavemen had a temperature gauge though nice work

[GlenfinnanForge]

@music1account Even a 15 year old can use Google :-) , go to yard sales or garage sales and you will find a ballpeen hammer for cheap. Go to a junkyard and find a bigish chunk of metal for cheap to use as your anvil. These things don't cost much to get a really basic setup. Get a part-time gig doing something for money to fund your new hobby. No offense intended, but excuses are for those who don't actually have the motivation to find a way to do what they are asking about...

[GlenfinnanForge]

@music1account Use google to look these things up. If the world ends there will be scrap iron galore, so sourcing isn't that hard. But for blacksmithing, get yourself a ballpeen hammer, a chunk of hard iron for an anvil and figure out fire. Play now, and fail a lot so you are prepared if that day ever comes.

[GlenfinnanForge]

@music1account many rivers contain black sand, which is iron (magnetite, hematite, iron oxide etc.) some time at a river with a gold pan will yield you some. The internet is a great place to learn about backyard smelting with few materials. As to the blacksmithing, the internet is great for that too. You don't have to have expensive stuff to start learning any of this. Just take the time to research and then try it out for yourself. Fail a lot now, so if TEOTWAWKI ever happens, you are prepared.