>Is there any agreed evidence of iron-working in the New World?
>Doug
The earliest known site is at L'anse aux Meadows Newfoundland. This is a
well documented, short term, Norse occupation site circa 1000 AD.
A small amount (about 3 kg) of wrought iron bloom was smelted from locally
occuring bog iron. Fuel was charcoal, also local and produced on site.
Evidence suggests a single firing of the simple bowl furnace.
I'm not sure if there are any articles available on JUST the iron working
at this site. Dr B. Wallace has an overview article on the site available
on the web at:
http://www.heureka.fi/en/x/nxwallace.html
There is some 'popular' information concerning the inclusion of Viking Age
smithing as part of the living history program at LAM buried with the rest
of the stuff on the 'Norse Encampment' at:
http://www.pipcom.com/wareham_forge/encamp.html
Darrell Markewitz
Interpretive Program Designer
the Nrose Encampment
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