We do have a few firsthand accounts of iron making cultures and
traditions. And in these cultures we find that the art of making iron is
not just digging a hole back-of the pig sty. In western Africa the
makers of iron, organized by klan or guild or kinship, were often
separate political entities. Some were counsels to kings, others
shamans, and still others outcasts because they controlled this terrible
power. This social organization resulted in apprenticeships that lasted
years, whether this was a cause or an effect we cannot tell. Did the
production of iron require this organization? Or did the organization
require the production of iron?
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William of Ockham, useful though he may be at times, would lead us to
unfortunate assumptions when we are considering the uncertain number of
people needed to develop and maintain the craft of iron smelting.
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When I met Martha Goodway for the first time, she asked this simple
question. 'how do you make iron?' And I standing there with a
reasonable sized bloom in my hands realized that I had no answer to her
question. Martha waited a moment then smiled (with an impish grin) and
said 'magic, don't you know it's magic'. Now, two years later I
understand.
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I refer you to:
Author McNaughton, Patrick R
Title The Mande blacksmiths : knowledge, power, and art in
West Africa / Patrick R. McNaughton
Publisher Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c1988
Author Herbert, Eugenia W
Title Iron, gender, and power : rituals of transformation in
African societies / Eugenia W. Herbert
Publisher Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c1993
And the wonderful video
Title: Inagina : l'ultime maison du fer = the last house of iron / a
film by Documentary Educational Resources, PAVE, Bernard Agustoni, Eric
Huysecom
; directed by Eric Huysecom, Bernard Agustoni ;
cinematographer, Bernard Agustoni ; written by Armen Godel ; translated
by Vivienne Baillie
Gerritsen ; narrated by Douglas Fowley, Jr. ; edited by Bruno
Saparelli ; music, Jessi Tessougue ; sound mixing, Rene Sutterlin, Denis
Sechaud.
___
_____________
Skip Williams
Washington and Lee University
University Computing 105 Tucker Hall
Phone 540-463-8429
Fax 540-463-8479
e-mail [log in to unmask]
web http://iron.wlu.edu
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