THE ANALYSIS OF METALWORKING DEBRIS, DOMESTIC METALWORK AND PLATE ARMOUR FROM PONTEFRACT CASTLE, WEST YORKSHIRE
Author(s): P Maclean, D Starley
The castle was demolished during the English Civil War (ECW) in 1649. Excavations were carried out between 1982 and 1986. The 39 kg of ferrous debris showed that the main activity was ironsmithing centred on the kitchen area in the 14/15th century. Examination of four 'jack plates' (armour) showed them to be entirely mineralised. Differing relict microstructures in two of the plates sampled supported the suggestion that jack plates were sometimes constructed from old armour plate. The 1 kg of non-ferrous debris produced evidence for metalworking and melting operations again centred on the kitchen area, this time in the 17th century. The primary alloys were brass and gunmetal. Thirty seven pieces of ECW domestic metalwork were analysed by X-ray fluorescence, several objects were surface coated (tinned or mercury gilded). Food utensils were made of lead (Pb). Some non-ferrous alloys also contained arsenic, nickel, silver and antimony.
- Report Number:
- 33/1999
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 28
- Keywords:
- Glass Metal Working-Fe Metal Working-non Fe
