ANALYSIS OF METALWORKING DEBRIS FROM THORPE LEA NURSERIES, NEAR EGHAM, SURREY 1990-1994
Author(s): D Starley
All metalworking debris recovered from an Iron Age and Roman settlement site was examined visually, and polished sections of eight samples were investigated by optical microscopy and SEM-based microanalysis. The slag derived almost entirely from iron smelting. It was unusual in having impressions of coarsely split wood on its surfaces, parallelling material from certain continental European pit furnaces. The debris was also very rich in iron, indicating a relatively inefficient smelting process. The use of bog ore is suggested on the basis of the very high phosphorus levels within the slag.This report follows up on recommendations made during assessment, previously published as AML Report 42/95.
- Report Number:
- 1/1998
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 21
- Keywords:
- Metal Working-Fe
