Diversity in Iron Age metalworking: a unique crucible from Westwood, Coventry
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Published
November 6, 2021
Abstract
Excavation of an Iron Age settlement at Westwood in the English Midlands recovered a ceramic crucible of a hitherto unknown form, with a hollow pouring spout. XRF analysis of the crucible detected copper, tin and silver. A find of a solitary crucible in a roundhouse is typical of the period but the form of this example is extraordinary and emphasises the diversity in Iron Age metalworking practices.
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References
Adams S, Brück J and Webley L 2017, The Social Context of Technology: non-ferrous metalworking in later prehistoric Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1046749
Bayley J C 1992, Non-ferrous metalworking in England. Late Iron Age to early medieval. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of London. Available at http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.309460
Bayley J, Freestone I, Jenner A and Vince A 1991, ‘Metallurgy’, in A Vince (ed), Aspects of Saxo-Norman London: 2 Finds and environmental evidence (London), 389-405.
Bedwin O and Place C 1995, ‘Late Iron Age and Romano-British occupation at Ounces Barn, Boxgrove, West Sussex; excavations 1982-83’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 133, 45-101.
Chapman A forthcoming, An Iron Age settlement, with copper alloy casting, at Coton Park, Rugby, Warwickshire.
Chapman H, Fletcher W, Fenwick H, Lillie M and Thomas G 2000, ‘The archaeological survey of Hull valley’, in R Van de Noort and S Ellis (eds), Wetland heritage of the Hull valley: an archaeological survey (Hull), 105-73.
Creighton J 2000, Coins and power in late Iron Age Britain (Cambridge).
Cunliffe B and Poole C 1991, Danebury: an Iron Age hillfort in Hampshire. Volume 5. The excavations 1979–1988: the finds (London).
Davey C 1985, ‘Crucibles in the Petrie collection and hieroglyphic ideograms for metal’, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 71, 142-8.
Dennis M 2005, Silver in Late Iron Age and early Roman East Anglia. Unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford.
Dungworth D 1996, ‘The production of copper alloys in Iron Age Britain’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 62, 399-421.
Dungworth D 2000, ‘A note on the analysis of crucibles and moulds’, Historical Metallurgy 34(2), 83-6.
Eniosova N and T Rehren 2012, ‘Metal melting crucibles from medieval Novgorod’, in M Brisbane, N Makarov and E Nosov (eds), The archaeology of medieval Novgorod in context. Studies in centre/periphery relations (Oxford), 210-23.
Farley J 2012, At the edge of empire: Iron Age and early Roman metalwork in the East Midlands. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Leicester.
Fulford M and J Timby 2000, Late Iron Age and Roman Silchester: excavations on the site of the Forum-Basilica 1977, 1980-86 (London).
Greig J 1972, ‘Cullykhan’, Current Archaeology 33, 227-31.
Harding D 2004, ‘Dunagoil, Bute, re-instated’, Transactions of the Buteshire Natural History Society 26, 3-19.
Heald A 2005, Non-ferrous metalworking in Iron Age Scotland, c. 700 BC to AD 800. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Edinburgh.
Hill S 2002, Interim report: archaeological work at Westwood Running Track, University of Warwick, Coventry, SP 2690 7660. Unpublished report, University of Warwick.
Howard H 1983, The bronze casting industry in later prehistoric southern Britain: a study based on refractory debris. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Southampton.
Hughes G 1996, ‘Old Oswestry hillfort: excavations by W J Varley 1939-1940’, Archaeologia Cambrensis 143, 46-91.
Kearns T, Martinón-Torres M and Rehren T 2010, ‘Metal to mould: alloy identification in experimental casting moulds using XRF’, Historical Metallurgy 44(1), 48-58.
Morris E and Gelling P S 1991, ‘A note on The Berth’, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society 67, 5.
Musson C, Britnell W, Northover J P and Salter C 1992, ‘Excavations and metal-working at Llwyn Bryn-dinas hillfort, Llangedwyn, Clwyd’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 58, 265-83.
Musson C and Northover J P 1989, ‘Llanymynech hillfort, Powys and Shropshire: Observations on Construction Work’, Montgomeryshire Collections 77, 15-26.
Northover J P 1992, ‘Materials issues in Celtic coinage’, in M Mays (ed), Celtic coinage: Britain and beyond (Oxford: BAR BS 222), 235-99.
Robbins K and Bayley J 1997, ‘Metallurgical analysis of coin pellet moulds and crucible fragments’, in S Elsdon, Old Sleaford revealed (Oxford), 59-64.
Score V 2011, Hoards, hounds and helmets. A conquest-period ritual site at Hallaton, Leicestershire (Leicester).
Webley L, Adams S and Brück J in prep, The Social Context of Technology: later prehistoric non-ferrous metalworking in Britain and Ireland (Oxford: Prehistoric Society Research Paper).
Bayley J C 1992, Non-ferrous metalworking in England. Late Iron Age to early medieval. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of London. Available at http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.309460
Bayley J, Freestone I, Jenner A and Vince A 1991, ‘Metallurgy’, in A Vince (ed), Aspects of Saxo-Norman London: 2 Finds and environmental evidence (London), 389-405.
Bedwin O and Place C 1995, ‘Late Iron Age and Romano-British occupation at Ounces Barn, Boxgrove, West Sussex; excavations 1982-83’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 133, 45-101.
Chapman A forthcoming, An Iron Age settlement, with copper alloy casting, at Coton Park, Rugby, Warwickshire.
Chapman H, Fletcher W, Fenwick H, Lillie M and Thomas G 2000, ‘The archaeological survey of Hull valley’, in R Van de Noort and S Ellis (eds), Wetland heritage of the Hull valley: an archaeological survey (Hull), 105-73.
Creighton J 2000, Coins and power in late Iron Age Britain (Cambridge).
Cunliffe B and Poole C 1991, Danebury: an Iron Age hillfort in Hampshire. Volume 5. The excavations 1979–1988: the finds (London).
Davey C 1985, ‘Crucibles in the Petrie collection and hieroglyphic ideograms for metal’, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 71, 142-8.
Dennis M 2005, Silver in Late Iron Age and early Roman East Anglia. Unpublished DPhil thesis, University of Oxford.
Dungworth D 1996, ‘The production of copper alloys in Iron Age Britain’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 62, 399-421.
Dungworth D 2000, ‘A note on the analysis of crucibles and moulds’, Historical Metallurgy 34(2), 83-6.
Eniosova N and T Rehren 2012, ‘Metal melting crucibles from medieval Novgorod’, in M Brisbane, N Makarov and E Nosov (eds), The archaeology of medieval Novgorod in context. Studies in centre/periphery relations (Oxford), 210-23.
Farley J 2012, At the edge of empire: Iron Age and early Roman metalwork in the East Midlands. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Leicester.
Fulford M and J Timby 2000, Late Iron Age and Roman Silchester: excavations on the site of the Forum-Basilica 1977, 1980-86 (London).
Greig J 1972, ‘Cullykhan’, Current Archaeology 33, 227-31.
Harding D 2004, ‘Dunagoil, Bute, re-instated’, Transactions of the Buteshire Natural History Society 26, 3-19.
Heald A 2005, Non-ferrous metalworking in Iron Age Scotland, c. 700 BC to AD 800. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Edinburgh.
Hill S 2002, Interim report: archaeological work at Westwood Running Track, University of Warwick, Coventry, SP 2690 7660. Unpublished report, University of Warwick.
Howard H 1983, The bronze casting industry in later prehistoric southern Britain: a study based on refractory debris. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Southampton.
Hughes G 1996, ‘Old Oswestry hillfort: excavations by W J Varley 1939-1940’, Archaeologia Cambrensis 143, 46-91.
Kearns T, Martinón-Torres M and Rehren T 2010, ‘Metal to mould: alloy identification in experimental casting moulds using XRF’, Historical Metallurgy 44(1), 48-58.
Morris E and Gelling P S 1991, ‘A note on The Berth’, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society 67, 5.
Musson C, Britnell W, Northover J P and Salter C 1992, ‘Excavations and metal-working at Llwyn Bryn-dinas hillfort, Llangedwyn, Clwyd’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 58, 265-83.
Musson C and Northover J P 1989, ‘Llanymynech hillfort, Powys and Shropshire: Observations on Construction Work’, Montgomeryshire Collections 77, 15-26.
Northover J P 1992, ‘Materials issues in Celtic coinage’, in M Mays (ed), Celtic coinage: Britain and beyond (Oxford: BAR BS 222), 235-99.
Robbins K and Bayley J 1997, ‘Metallurgical analysis of coin pellet moulds and crucible fragments’, in S Elsdon, Old Sleaford revealed (Oxford), 59-64.
Score V 2011, Hoards, hounds and helmets. A conquest-period ritual site at Hallaton, Leicestershire (Leicester).
Webley L, Adams S and Brück J in prep, The Social Context of Technology: later prehistoric non-ferrous metalworking in Britain and Ireland (Oxford: Prehistoric Society Research Paper).
How to Cite
Adams, S., Martinón-Torres, M., & Webley, L. (2021). Diversity in Iron Age metalworking: a unique crucible from Westwood, Coventry. Historical Metallurgy, 50(2), 78-84. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/52
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