Some reflections on the classification of prehistoric and medieval iron‐smelting furnaces

Iron production in scandinavian archaeology

“…Inga Serning saw the need for a common classification system of furnaces and established a system based on morphological elements (Serning 1976:48f.). This system was challenged by Irmelin Martens, who presented another classification system in 1978 (Martens 1978).…”

Capital and Mining Property Relations: Reconsidering Marxist Understanding of Feudal Mining Land

“…They were the primary smelting machine for recovering silver‐bearing minerals found galena, a lead ore common in Western European lands. Like all types of ore‐reduction furnaces, the size, height, and design of a bellows‐blown furnace responded to a specific production purpose ‐separating lead from slag (Martens, 1978, p. 28). Since bellows‐blown furnaces were used for re‐smelting small pieces of ore but consumed high amounts of charcoal, miners had to take into account fuel expenses (Stöllner, 2008).…”

“…The hearth reached an estimated temperature of 600°and 800°degrees Celsius, which created the needed oxidizing atmosphere for recuperating between 40 and 75 per cent of the metal (Rippon et al, 2009, p. 90). The design and construction of this type of hearth, as well as familiarity with its workings including regulation of fire, by no means depended upon whims of lords (Anguilano, Timberlake, & Rehren, 2010;Craddock, 1995Craddock, , 2000Martens, 1978).…”