A belated thank you to all of you who provided useful references and thoughts on gorse and fuel use. My conclusion is that there are no other examples of gorse/broom being used specifically for iron smelting (in any period, not just early medieval when these features are relatively rare anyway). There is plenty of evidence for the general use of gorse as wood fuel, particularly where there was pressure on woodland resources - but this is not obviously the case at my site, as I have contemporary corn dryers with assemblages dominated by oak.
Best wishes
Dana
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gill CAMPBELL" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, 27 May, 2011 9:51:23 AM
Subject: Re: Ulex/Cytisus and smelting
Hi Dana et al,
Gorse was cut as a fuel for use by bakers, brick-makers, lime-burners and farmer's wives in the west county (Devon, Dorset, Cornwall) ( Grigson, 1989, 126) and was also used in pottery kilns (Webb, 1986, 50). I found remains of spines in medieval contexts at Townwall Street, Dover which I interpreted as the remains of fuel or fodder (Campbell, 2006). As you need a reducing atmosphere for smelting, in addition to high temperatures, the use of gorse for this purpose seems unlikely, though gorse might be used to roast the ore.
With all best wishes
Gill
References:
Campbell, G, 2006 Plant remains, in K Parfitt, B Cooke, and J Cotter, Townwall Street, Dover excavations 1996, Canterbury: Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 378-90
Grigson, 1987 The Englishman's Flora, (facsimile of 1955 edn) London: Dent
Webb, N 1986 Heathlands (New Naturalist 72), Collins: London
-----Original Message-----
From: The archaeobotany mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Carter
Sent: 26 May 2011 22:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Ulex/Cytisus and smelting
Hi Dana
While I don't have any references, I do have personal experience in burning gorse, and have some experience in working with iron and steel. In my experience gorse wood burns extremely hot and would be able to be used in the smelting of iron.
Cheers John
-----Original Message-----
From: The archaeobotany mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dana Challinor
Sent: Friday, 20 May 2011 11:06 p.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Ulex/Cytisus and smelting
Hello everyone,
Has anyone any evidence for the use of Ulex/Cytisus in iron smelting? I have large quantities of (probable) gorse charcoal from a couple of early medieval furnaces in west Wales, but my understanding from the metallurgist is that gorse is not considered a suitable fuel for smelting. Any references or ideas would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Dana
Dana Challinor, MA (Oxon), MSc
Freelance Wood and Charcoal Specialist
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