Dear all
I'm faced with the task of speculating on a collection of R-B
blacksmithing residues. Amongst the residues are a significant
number of nails - so at least for now I'm assuming that these were
being made. The residues are contained within an earlier structure,
so there is a chance that none were dumped elsewhere. So I can
calculate the amount of macroscopic slags and hazard an estimate
at the amount of microscopic residues (based on a small number
of samples...).
Does anyone know (short of doing this experimentally, which I
hope to do next summer), how much residue would be expected to
be generated (or the flip side of the expected % iron loss) in
smithing large numbers of 8cm nails out of iron bar in a clay hearth?
Does anyone have experience of how many such R-B style nails
one could make in one day with appropriate technology?
Any ideas, references, anecdotal experiences etc. would be most
welcome!
Back-of-the-envelope speculation is just the thing for the post-plum
pudding/millenium party armchair...
with best wishes to all for 2000
Tim Young
Dr Tim Young
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.geoarch.demon.co.uk/
Phone: 02920 747480
Fax: 08700 547366
Mobile: 0802 413704
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