Peter,
The evidence so far qualifies your suggestion and vitrified material is
certainly attached to stonework discovered. I have discounted any suggestion
of a furnace lining.
Dr. Marcos Martinon-Torres at UCL has offered a feasible explanation for the
use of ground down pottery sherds (see Britarch List) and his suggestion
certainly fits what I am finding.
I will email you off list with current situation of excavation.
Trevor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Claughton" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: Shattered and Splintered Pottery Sherds
> At 01:00 05/02/06, Jerry L. Bryant, RPA wrote:
>>I tried to send you a photo of the artifacts in question, but the list
>>server had objections.
>
> Jerry,
>
> The list is set to reject attachments - send them direct to Trevor - his
> address will be in the message header.
>
> Trevor,
>
> The ore hearth, which we believe was the process being used at Combe
> Martin from the late 16th into the 17th century, was, on the evidence from
> Derbyshire and Yorkshire, stone built with no clay lining. The key
> component in the hearth was the workstone, set at the base of the hearth,
> which allowed the smelter to bring partially smelted ore forward into an
> oxidising atmosphere, initiating the chemical process which released the
> metallic lead (the roast/reduction process). One would expect the
> stonework of the hearth to be vitrified.
>
> Peter
>
>
> Peter
>
> ______________________________________________
>
> Dr Peter Claughton,
> Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66
> 7RE.
> Tel. +44 (0)1437 532578; Fax. +44 (0)1437 532921; Mobile +44 (0)7831
> 427599
>
> Hon. University Fellow
> School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Centre for South Western
> Historical Studies)
> University of Exeter
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
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>
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