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BLACKSMITHING TECHNOLOGY IN IRON AGE WESSEX
Author(s) -
EHRENREICH ROBERT M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
oxford journal of archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1468-0092
pISSN - 0262-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0092.1986.tb00351.x
Subject(s) - metallography , electron microprobe , cast iron , archaeology , microprobe , metallurgy , sophistication , geology , mineralogy , materials science , geography , microstructure , art , aesthetics
Summary. The sophistication of Iron Age blacksmithing technology in Wessex was determined by the metallurgical examination of 503 iron artefacts using Optical Metallography, Electron Microprobe Analysis and Vickers Hardness Testing. Iron artefacts from the different regions and site types of Southern Britain were examined to determine both the capabilities of Iron Age blacksmiths to alter the properties of iron artefacts through cold‐working, carburization, heat‐treatment and alloy selection, and the distribution of these possible techniques. The reasons for the selection of the areas, the sites, and the actual artefacts chosen for examination are discussed.