BLOOMERY PROCESS AS THE BASIS OF ANCIENT METALLURGY

  • V.I. Zavyalov Instityte of Archaeology RAS Email: v_zavyalov@list.ru
  • N.N. Terekhova Institute Archeology RAS Email: v_zavyalov@list.ru
Keywords: archeometallurgy, experiment, bloomery process, bloom, conglomerate

Abstract

At present, the principles of direct reduction of iron, which dominated in metallurgy for more than three millennia, are well known. However, it is far from always possible to successfully carry out experimental modeling of the bloomery process. We have carried out 35 experiments. A fully preserved bloomery furnace, excavated at the settlement Kolesovka-4, was chosen, as a prototype of the pyrotechnic structure. As a result of the experiments, it was found that during the roasting of the ore, not only the burnout of organic impurities occurred, but also the concentration of silica and alumina decreased, and thus the content of iron oxide increased. The crushing of ore is essential. It can be stated with all certainty that theoretical knowledge is not enough to implement a successful process of obtaining iron by the bloomery method.

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Author Biographies

V.I. Zavyalov, Instityte of Archaeology RAS

Doctor of Historical Sciences, Leading Researcher Laboratory of Natural Sciences Institute of Archaeology RAS

N.N. Terekhova, Institute Archeology RAS

Candidate of Historical Sciences, Senior Researcher Laboratory of Natural Sciences Institute of Archaeology RAS

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Published
2023-10-20
How to Cite
Zavyalov V., Terekhova N. BLOOMERY PROCESS AS THE BASIS OF ANCIENT METALLURGY // THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 2023. Vol. 35, № 3. P. 23-41 DOI: 10.14258/tpai(2023)35(3).-02. URL: http://journal.asu.ru/tpai/article/view/13818.
Section
THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES OF ARCHAEOLOGY