Examination of four Iron Age ferrous hammer heads from Bredon Hili (Hereford and Worcester), England
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Published
Jan 29, 2022
Abstract
Four hammerheads, provisionally dated to between the late 4th century BC and the early 1 st century AD, were examined by metallography and electron microprobe to determine principally the methods of manufacture and any technological enhancements. Samples, taken near the faces, were found to comprise low/medium carbon steels. Two hammerheads had been quenched and possibly tempered, another was probably quenched and subsequently severely reheated, and the fourth was aircooled. Carburization in each hammerhead is interpreted as having derived from the bloom (primary carburization). The differences in the heat treatments
applied were probably function related. The metallographic results are discussed in the context of other later Iron Age artifacts.
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References
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Ehrenreich, R M, Trade, Technology and the Ironworking Community in the Iron Age of Southern Britain. (Oxford: BARBS 144, 1985).
Fell, V 'Examination of an Iron Age Metalworking File from Gussage All Saints, Dorsct. Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc 107 (1985), 176-8.
Fell, V, 'Iron Age Metalworking Tools from Gussage All Saints, Dorset'. Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc 110 (1988), 73-6.
Fell, V. Pre-Roman Iron Age Metalworking Tools from England and Wales: their Use, Technology, and Archaeological Context. Unpublished MPhil thesis. University of Durham 1990a.
Fell, V, 'Metallographic examination of the hammer-head (No. 7) from Burial 9'. in G M and G N Aitken, 'Excavations at Whitcombe, 1965-1967', Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc 112 (1990b), 75-6.
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Hennig, E, 'Metallkundliche Untersuchungen zur Schmiedetechnik "Eiserner" Werkzeuge aus der Latenezeitlichen Siedlung Widderstatt', Alt-Thuringen 21 (1986), 164-208.
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Pleiner, R, 'Metallography of Early Artifacts: the Problem of Welding Together Iron and Steel', Antikvariskt Arkiv 53 ( =Early Medieval Studies 6) (1973), 17-28.
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Pleiner, R. 'Untersuchungen zur Schmiedetechnik auf den Keltischen Oppida', Pamatky Archeologicke 73 ( 1982), 86-173.
Porter, D A, and Easterling, K E, Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys (London 1981 ).
Salter, C, 'Metallurgical aspects of the ironwork', in B Cunliffe, Danebury: an Iron Age Hillfort in Hampshire. Vol 2, The Excavations, 1969-1978: The Finds (London: CBA Res Rep 52, 1984), 433-7.
Salter, C, and Ehrenreich, R, 'Iron Age iron metallurgy in central southern Britain', in B Cunliffe and D Miles (eds), Aspects of the Iron Age in Central Southern Britain (Oxford: OUCA Monog 2. 1984), 146-61.
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Scott, B G, Early Irish Ironworking (Belfast 1990).
Spratling, MG, Tylecote, R F, Kay, P J, Jones, L, Wilson, C M, Pettifer, K. Osborne, G, Craddock, P T, and Biek, L, 'An Iron Age bronze foundry at Gussage All Saints, Dorset: Preliminary assessment of technology', in E A Slater and J 0 Tate (eds), Proceedings 16th International Symposium 011 Archaeometry, 1976 (Edinburgh 1980), 268-292.
Stanford, S C. Midsummer Hili: an lron Age hillfort on the Malverns (Hereford 1981 ).
Tylecote, R F. Metallurgical examination of material from the lron Age site of Gussage All Saints. Dorset. Unpublished Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report. 1975.
Tylecote, R F, The Prehistory of Metallurgy in the British lsles (London 1986).
Clough, R E, "The Bloomery Process - Observations on the use of rich ores and the production of natural steel', in B G Scott and H Cleere (eds), The Crafts of the Blacksmith, Proc. UISPP Comite pour la Siderurgie Ancienne Symposium, Belfast. 1984 (Belfast 1987), 19-27.
Cunliffe, B, Iron Age communities in Britain: an account of England, Wales, and Scotland from the seventh century BC until the Roman conquest. 3rd edn, revised (London 1991).
Ehrenreich, R M, Trade, Technology and the Ironworking Community in the Iron Age of Southern Britain. (Oxford: BARBS 144, 1985).
Fell, V 'Examination of an Iron Age Metalworking File from Gussage All Saints, Dorsct. Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc 107 (1985), 176-8.
Fell, V, 'Iron Age Metalworking Tools from Gussage All Saints, Dorset'. Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc 110 (1988), 73-6.
Fell, V. Pre-Roman Iron Age Metalworking Tools from England and Wales: their Use, Technology, and Archaeological Context. Unpublished MPhil thesis. University of Durham 1990a.
Fell, V, 'Metallographic examination of the hammer-head (No. 7) from Burial 9'. in G M and G N Aitken, 'Excavations at Whitcombe, 1965-1967', Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc 112 (1990b), 75-6.
Hencken, T C, "The Excavation of the lron Age Camp on Bredon Hili, Gloucestershire, 1935-1937', Archaeol J 95 (1938), 1-111.
Hennig, E, 'Metallkundliche Untersuchungen zur Schmiedetechnik "Eiserner" Werkzeuge aus der Latenezeitlichen Siedlung Widderstatt', Alt-Thuringen 21 (1986), 164-208.
Hogg, A HA, Hili-Forts of Britain (London 1975).
Lang, J, "The Technology of Celtic Iron Swords', in B G Scott and H Cleere (eds), The Crafts of the Blacksmith, Proc. UISPP Comite pour la Siderurgie Ancienne Symposium, Belfast. 1984 (Belfast 1987) 61- 72.
Linton, R and Bayley, J, Technological samples from Beckford Beckford, Herefordshire. Unpublished Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report 3762. 1982.
Manning. W H, Catalogue of the Romano-British lron Tools, Fittings and Weapons in the British Museum (London 1985).
McDonnell, JG, The Classification of Early Ironworking Slags. Unpublished PhD thesis. University of Aston 1986.
Pleiner, R. Stare evropske kovarstvi (Prague 1962).
Pleiner, R, 'Metallography of Early Artifacts: the Problem of Welding Together Iron and Steel', Antikvariskt Arkiv 53 ( =Early Medieval Studies 6) (1973), 17-28.
Pleiner, R, 'Early Iron Metallurgy in Europe", in TA Wertime and J D Muhly (eds), The Coming of the Age of lron (New Haven and London 1980). 375-415.
Pleiner, R. 'Untersuchungen zur Schmiedetechnik auf den Keltischen Oppida', Pamatky Archeologicke 73 ( 1982), 86-173.
Porter, D A, and Easterling, K E, Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys (London 1981 ).
Salter, C, 'Metallurgical aspects of the ironwork', in B Cunliffe, Danebury: an Iron Age Hillfort in Hampshire. Vol 2, The Excavations, 1969-1978: The Finds (London: CBA Res Rep 52, 1984), 433-7.
Salter, C, and Ehrenreich, R, 'Iron Age iron metallurgy in central southern Britain', in B Cunliffe and D Miles (eds), Aspects of the Iron Age in Central Southern Britain (Oxford: OUCA Monog 2. 1984), 146-61.
Samuels, L E, Optical Microscopy of Carbon Steels (Ohio 1980).
Scott, B G, Early Irish Ironworking (Belfast 1990).
Spratling, MG, Tylecote, R F, Kay, P J, Jones, L, Wilson, C M, Pettifer, K. Osborne, G, Craddock, P T, and Biek, L, 'An Iron Age bronze foundry at Gussage All Saints, Dorset: Preliminary assessment of technology', in E A Slater and J 0 Tate (eds), Proceedings 16th International Symposium 011 Archaeometry, 1976 (Edinburgh 1980), 268-292.
Stanford, S C. Midsummer Hili: an lron Age hillfort on the Malverns (Hereford 1981 ).
Tylecote, R F. Metallurgical examination of material from the lron Age site of Gussage All Saints. Dorset. Unpublished Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report. 1975.
Tylecote, R F, The Prehistory of Metallurgy in the British lsles (London 1986).
How to Cite
Fell, V. (2022). Examination of four Iron Age ferrous hammer heads from Bredon Hili (Hereford and Worcester), England. Historical Metallurgy, 27(2), 60-70. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/486
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How to Cite
Fell, V. (2022). Examination of four Iron Age ferrous hammer heads from Bredon Hili (Hereford and Worcester), England. Historical Metallurgy, 27(2), 60-70. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/486