An Early to Middle Iron Age iron smelting site at Exeter Down, Stamford, Lincolnshire
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Published
Nov 6, 2021
Abstract
Two small iron smelting furnaces were excavated close to an enclosed Iron Age farmstead, which pottery and radiocarbon dates indicate was occupied during the Early–Middle Iron Age (c5th–2nd centuries BC). The site lies on a belt of iron-rich sedimentary rocks (Jurassic ironstones), and there is plentiful evidence of pre-Industrial era ironworking nearby. Although the remains found at the site appear to be notably early, analysis of the slag has revealed the furnaces were operated in a very efficient way, with a relatively high proportion of iron extracted during smelting. The paucity of smithing residues suggests this process occurred elsewhere.
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Keywords
References
Bellamy B, Jackson D and Johnston G 2000, ‘Early iron smelting in the Rockingham Forest area: a survey of the evidence’, Northamptonshire Archaeology 29, 103–28.
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1974, Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and Wales) 1:50,000, Sheet 157: Stamford (Southampton).
Condron F 1997, ‘Iron production in Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire in antiquity’, Transactions Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society 71, 1–20.
Cotswold Archaeology 2012, Eversley Quarry, Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berkshire. Post-excavation assessment and updated project design. Unpublished report 12300.
Crew P 1987, ‘Bryn y Castell hillfort-a late prehistoric iron working settlement in north-west Wales’, in B G Scott and H Cleere (eds), The crafts of the blacksmith (Belfast), 91–100.
Daniel P forthcoming, ‘Exeter Down, Stamford: an Early to Middle Iron Age enclosed settlement with evidence of iron smelting’, Lincolnshire History and Archaeology.
Dixon C J 1979, Atlas of economic mineral deposits (London).
Okafor E E 2004, ‘Twenty-five centuries of bloomery iron smelting in Nigeria’, in H Bocoum (ed), The origins of iron metallurgy in Africa. New light on its antiquity: West and Central Africa (Paris), 43–54.
Schrüfer-Kolb I 2004, Roman iron production in Britain. Technological and socio-economic landscape development along the Jurassic Ridge (Oxford: BAR BS 380).
SLR Consulting 2011a, Stamford West: archaeological fieldwalking report and air-photographs study. Unpublished report 403.01465.00008.
SLR Consulting 2011b, Stamford West, Lincolnshire: geophysical survey report. Unpublished report 403.01465.00008.
SLR Consulting 2012, Stamford West, Lincolnshire: archaeological site investigation by trenching. Unpublished report 403.01465.00008.
Vander Voort G F 1999, Metallography, principles and practice (Materials Park, OH).
Wessex Archaeology 2014, Land off Empingham Road, Exeter Down, Stamford, Lincolnshire: detailed gradiometer survey report. Unpublished report 104280.01.
Wessex Archaeology 2017, Stamford West, Lincolnshire: archaeological excavation. Unpublished report 104281.03.
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1974, Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and Wales) 1:50,000, Sheet 157: Stamford (Southampton).
Condron F 1997, ‘Iron production in Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire in antiquity’, Transactions Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society 71, 1–20.
Cotswold Archaeology 2012, Eversley Quarry, Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berkshire. Post-excavation assessment and updated project design. Unpublished report 12300.
Crew P 1987, ‘Bryn y Castell hillfort-a late prehistoric iron working settlement in north-west Wales’, in B G Scott and H Cleere (eds), The crafts of the blacksmith (Belfast), 91–100.
Daniel P forthcoming, ‘Exeter Down, Stamford: an Early to Middle Iron Age enclosed settlement with evidence of iron smelting’, Lincolnshire History and Archaeology.
Dixon C J 1979, Atlas of economic mineral deposits (London).
Okafor E E 2004, ‘Twenty-five centuries of bloomery iron smelting in Nigeria’, in H Bocoum (ed), The origins of iron metallurgy in Africa. New light on its antiquity: West and Central Africa (Paris), 43–54.
Schrüfer-Kolb I 2004, Roman iron production in Britain. Technological and socio-economic landscape development along the Jurassic Ridge (Oxford: BAR BS 380).
SLR Consulting 2011a, Stamford West: archaeological fieldwalking report and air-photographs study. Unpublished report 403.01465.00008.
SLR Consulting 2011b, Stamford West, Lincolnshire: geophysical survey report. Unpublished report 403.01465.00008.
SLR Consulting 2012, Stamford West, Lincolnshire: archaeological site investigation by trenching. Unpublished report 403.01465.00008.
Vander Voort G F 1999, Metallography, principles and practice (Materials Park, OH).
Wessex Archaeology 2014, Land off Empingham Road, Exeter Down, Stamford, Lincolnshire: detailed gradiometer survey report. Unpublished report 104280.01.
Wessex Archaeology 2017, Stamford West, Lincolnshire: archaeological excavation. Unpublished report 104281.03.
How to Cite
Daniel, P., & Mackenzie, R. (2021). An Early to Middle Iron Age iron smelting site at Exeter Down, Stamford, Lincolnshire. Historical Metallurgy, 50(2), 71-77. https://www.hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/51
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Daniel, P., & Mackenzie, R. (2021). An Early to Middle Iron Age iron smelting site at Exeter Down, Stamford, Lincolnshire. Historical Metallurgy, 50(2), 71-77. https://www.hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/51