Period: Early Iron Age (c. 500-0 BC)

Project title: Jernudvinding i en Espevej/Skovmarkovn. Forsøg med en genbrugsovn

Researchers: The iron-smelting group "Thorbardin", Copenhagen, Denmark

E-mail: amatthissen(at)hotmail.com

Year: 2005

Abstract:

Already at the beginning of the Iron Age iron was being produced from bog iron ore. This is a long process that begins with the collection and roasting of the ore to make it ready for the actual smelting process. In the smelting furnace, which reaches temperatures of around 1200°C, everything apart from iron is burnt away. When the furnace is opened afterwards the iron is taken out and the long careful refining process begins at the smith’s forge.

Not until the iron is sufficiently pure can the smith produce knives, swords, axes and other goods for the village. The process itself is well-known but how it all began and how the earliest furnaces functioned is still somewhat of a mystery. The iron-smelting group Thorbardin, comprising students from Copenhagen University, is using this project to address the problem. A reconstruction will be built of the oldest known furnace on the basis of a completely new interpretation, and then at least two iron-smelting runs will be carried out in the furnace. An experienced smith will examine the resulting iron and see if the village will be able to have new knives this year!

Reference number: HAF 10/05