The pyrotechnology section of the workshop deals with technologies that employ fire as a means to transform matter. Our focus is twofold: ceramics and metal. The ceramic manufacturing aspect of the pyrotechnology section will take the participants through all the stages of pottery making. We’ll begin by extracting and cleaning the clay, making the tools that we need and then manufacturing Late Iron Age and Roman vessels either free hand or using a slow wheel. We will experiment with different types of surface treatment and various ways to apply heat. For the purpose of firing the pottery, we will build three distinct environments: a ceramic firing pit, a Dacian (LIA) and a Roman oven. By the end of the workshop, we will be eating and drinking out of our own vessels, using our own utensils, all of them Late Iron Age style!



EXPERIMENTAL LATE BRONSE AGE FORGING

We will experiment with Late Iron Age metal technologies, going through all the stages of the transformation: from roasting the iron ore, to making quick lime to use as flux, to reducing the ore to produce sponge iron, then the bloomer is transformed into wrought iron that will be forged into iron artifacts, ranging from swords and arrow points to tools and jewelry. We will also melt and cast iron, copper and bronze in Late Bronze Age and Iron Age type furnaces.

CELTIC IRON SMELTING KILN

Experimental Archaeology Home

BRONZE CASTING