• ARCHAEOLOGY
• WALKING IN MALAGNE
  • Handicraft
    • The manufacturing of iron
    • Exploiting the soil
    • The fabrication of textiles
    • Creating baskets and ropery
  • The art of construction
  • The farm
  • The kitchen
• TEACHERS
• CHILDREN

The manufacturing of iron

The winning and the manufacturing of iron in our region is known since the iron era.

During the IVth century the habitants of the territory became acute in metalworking. The mineral sedimentary of iron ore was exploited and the ore was won with the help of low furnaces. Although iron was abundantly manufactured on Malagne, only little bronze was manufactured. A low furnace and a forgery that were reconstructed at Malagne are used for experiments and demonstrations. Experimental archaeology makes it possible to understand how a low furnace was built and how it worked.

The iron oxide was won by heating the ore at a temperature that came near 1400°C. Charcoal was used to heat the furnace. An iron sponge was obtained that was still polluted with waste and metal scoriae. This sponge had to be purified in a hearth and the metal scoriae were hammered out. This resulted in an iron bar that was thereupon formed by a smith.

The Celtics were masters in metal working and produced numerous metal objects: weapons, jewellery, knives and forks, edges for wooden gear-wheels. The Roman era is characterised by the increase of the iron production but the quality of it deteriorated.

In between the excavations on Malagne a labour yard of a smith was found. The considerable amount of scoriae and indoor hearths let us no doubt about that. The building of the current forgery was rebuilt on the authentic remains of the Gallic Roman wall including a little wall around the hearth and an anvil. Several ancient tools were also copied.

Coins dated from the last years of the Ist century before Christ were found on Malagne. Coins are in general elements with precise date, however, the Roman pieces that were used in Gaul at the time of the Gallic Romans, are not dated but they do provide us with information regarding the acts and merits of the emperor represented on them. Also a value is added on the coins. At the time this value was generally known but it varied during the years.