Basics of Bloomery Iron Smelting: Experimental Iron Smelting – Part One
By Darrell Markewitz
The Wareham Forge
ISBN: 978-1-0691597-2-4
In the ancient and medieval worlds, blacksmiths had to transform raw iron ore into workable metal. This book provides a practical guide to that process, focusing on the use of a furnace known as a bloomery.
Excerpt:
Overall, this manuscript is intended to fill the gap between ‘the doer and the thinker’, and so should be expected to be an overview, especially as applies to the fine details of current archaeology. The purpose is to create a single document preserving what has become a lifetime of independent research, experimentation and observations, hopefully into a format that may endure beyond the etherial nature of the internet.
Who is this book for?
This is very much a hands-on guide to iron smelting. Its chapters cover how to build a furnace, the ores and tools required, and the various methods used to heat the ore and turn it into usable metal (it’s more complicated than it appears in Minecraft). The book is also well illustrated, with many helpful images and drawings.
Grounded in experimental archaeology, it offers readers a close look at a process that was used for centuries. While it is more technical than many medieval historians may need, it is still very valuable for anyone seeking a fuller understanding of how blacksmiths worked. Those interested in medieval technology, in particular, will find it well worth having.
The Author
Darrell Markewitz is a professional artisan blacksmith with decades of experience, including working at the L’Anse aux Meadows site in Canada.
Basics of Bloomery Iron Smelting: Experimental Iron Smelting – Part One
By Darrell Markewitz
The Wareham Forge
ISBN: 978-1-0691597-2-4
In the ancient and medieval worlds, blacksmiths had to transform raw iron ore into workable metal. This book provides a practical guide to that process, focusing on the use of a furnace known as a bloomery.
Excerpt:
Overall, this manuscript is intended to fill the gap between ‘the doer and the thinker’, and so should be expected to be an overview, especially as applies to the fine details of current archaeology. The purpose is to create a single document preserving what has become a lifetime of independent research, experimentation and observations, hopefully into a format that may endure beyond the etherial nature of the internet.
Who is this book for?
This is very much a hands-on guide to iron smelting. Its chapters cover how to build a furnace, the ores and tools required, and the various methods used to heat the ore and turn it into usable metal (it’s more complicated than it appears in Minecraft). The book is also well illustrated, with many helpful images and drawings.
Grounded in experimental archaeology, it offers readers a close look at a process that was used for centuries. While it is more technical than many medieval historians may need, it is still very valuable for anyone seeking a fuller understanding of how blacksmiths worked. Those interested in medieval technology, in particular, will find it well worth having.
The Author
Darrell Markewitz is a professional artisan blacksmith with decades of experience, including working at the L’Anse aux Meadows site in Canada.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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