Characterization of bloomery slags

Abstract

Nobody has been able to reproduce the successful ironmaking, in the way it was achieved during the Roman iron age and the Middle ages. On the basis of mainly the morphology of bloomery slags from the rich finds from about year 200 BC to 1800AD in Mid-Norway, combined with metallurgical reasoning and written documents from the 18ᵗʰ cen-tury, certain alternative models for the operation of the furnaces are presented. These agree well with the view presented by Dr L. Beck in 1891 on early ironmaking among the Germanic people