NEW RADIOCARBON DATES FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN PARTS OF IGBOLAND, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT This paper presents new results of radiocarbon (14C) ages from archaeological sites in northern Igboland. The study was designed to shed more light on early human occupation and activities in the study area based on sediments from cave and iron-smelting sites. The approach consisted of ethnographic, archaeological, palynological, and slag analyses; these were complemented with 14C dates. The technology adopted as well as the paleoenvironmental conditions that prevailed during the period of human settlement in both sites was revealed. These data, complemented by 14C dates, highlight the human behavioral and subsistence patterns within the region and are comparable to those from similar sites in southeastern Nigeria.

The Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex: Re-assessing the Emergence of Ancient Kedah

This article proposes new historical perspectives arising from the findings in the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex, Kedah, by the Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2009. Excavations in the complex unearthed the remains of iron smelting sites, wharves and other brick structures, dating back to the 2nd/3rd century AD. The discoveries of furnaces, tuyeres and iron slag attest to Sungai Batu’s role as the centre for primary iron production, employing the bloomery method. The study suggests that Ancient Kedah appeared as one of the hubs for the trans-Asiatic trade network with the rise of the iron industry, while its economic complexity grew steadily in successive centuries. The early emergence of Ancient Kedah was a development synchronous with the later phase of the Indian-Southeast Asian exchange network between the 2nd to the 4th century AD when inter and intra-regional trade intensified. Due to its favourable geological features, strategic location with a suitable ecozone, as well as being a thriving centre for primary iron production, Ancient Kedah emerged as an important harbour. It was this trading and industrial past, the article will argue, that contributed to the rise of other economic hubs within Ancient Kedah, such as Pengkalan Bujang and Kampung Sungai Mas, which eventually developed into entrepôts after the 5th century AD.

Archaeology of Igboland, Southeastern Nigeria

Archaeological research began relatively late in southeastern Nigeria compared with other African countries. The site of Igboukwu, despite the remarkable discoveries made there accidentally in 1938, was not investigated thoroughly until 1959. The first systematic archaeological excavations in the region took place between December 1959 and January 1960. The Igboukwu excavations yielded hundreds of glass beads, intricately produced bronze objects, elaborately decorated potsherds, and various iron tools that revealed the artistic ingenuity of the Igbo people. These archaeological findings laid a good foundation for archaeological research in southeastern Nigeria. Subsequently, from 1964 to 1978, human-made tools including hand axes, flakes, cores, polished stone axes, ground stone axes, and microliths were discovered at various locations in the region. At the Lejja, Opi, and Aku iron smelting sites, evidence of slag blocks, tuyere fragments, furnace remains, iron ores, and potsherds are seen on the surface, suggesting large-scale intensive iron-working production in the past. These archaeological remains from stratified archaeological deposits showcase a people with a distinctive past.

Interpreting the Chemical Variability of Iron Smelting Slag: A Case Study from Northeastern Madagascar

The archaeological remains of a metallurgical workshop were excavated at Amboronala (northeast of Madagascar/1000–1200 CE). The bulk mineralogical (X-ray Diffraction) and chemical (X-ray Fluorescence) data on ores, building materials, and slag are used to carry out a mass balance calculation. The results show an important variability from one smelt to the other, reflecting a poorly controlled process. During each smelt, a given amount of building material contributes to the formation of the slag, and the conditions of reduction allow the extraction of a given amount of metal. These two main factors influence the composition of the slag independently and variably. This finding allows to make some inference on the origin of the technique and the organization of the production can be made.

Adjustment of a technology of cast iron smelting in the blast furnace of jsc "ural steel" w ith a volume of 1232 см3 with charge h a v in g 95% share of Mikhailovskii GOK pellets

To use effectively internal raw material base, JSC “Ural Steel” accomplished I category major overhaul of the blast furnace No. 2. The main purpose of the overhaul was to design a rational profile which could ensure an ability to operate with a charge containing 95 % of Mikhailovskii GOK (mining and concentrating plant) pellets having basicity of 0.5 by CaO/SiO2. The blast furnace No. 2 having useful volume of 1232 m3, was constructed by design of Danieli Corus, the Netherlands, and was blown in on December 30, 2020. In the process of guarantee tests, step-by-step increase of Mikhailovskii GOK pellets (Fetotal = 60.5 %, CaO/SiO2 = 0.5) content in the charge iron ore part was being accomplished from 55 to 95.1%. Charging of the blend containing pellets in the amount of 55% of iron ore part, was done by charging system 4OOCC + 1COOCC (Ore - Coke) with filling level 1.5 m. Under conditions of pellets part increase in the blend, the charging system was changed to decrease their content at the periphery, to increase it in the ore ridge zone and make it intermediate between periphery and the ore ridge. At the pellets share in the iron ore raw materials 0.75 the charging system was used as the following: 3OOCC + 1COOC + 1COOCC, while at the content 95.1% the following charging system was used: 2COOC + 2COOC + 1COOCC. It was noted that in the period of guarantee tests the furnace running was smooth. The average silicon content in the hot metal was 0.70% at the standard deviation 0.666. Sulfur content in the hot metal did not exceed 0.024%, the blowing and natural gas consumption figures were 2100 m3/min and 11000 m3/min correspondently, oxygen content in the blowing 26.5%, hot blowing and top smoke pressure figures were 226.5 and 109.8 KPa correspondently. The productivity of the furnace was reached as high as 2358 t/day at the specific coke rate 433 kg/t of hot metal. After guarantee tests completion, the pellets content in the iron ore part was decreased gradually from 95 down to 50%. The decreasing was made by 5% in every 6 hours of operation. Application of the mastered technology of the blast furnace No. 2 with the increased share of pellets will enable to stably supply the blast furnaces No. 1, 3 and 4 by iron ore raw materials in the proportion of 30-35% of pellets and 65-70% of sinter.

GEO- AND PHYTO-MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SMELTING INDUSTRY IN IKIRUN, NIGERIA

This research monitored the level of some heavy metals in soil and a plant species around iron smelting industry. The soil in different depths D1 (0 -10 cm), D2 (10 – 20 cm) and D3 (20 -30 cm) and plant (Tithonia diversifolia) known as Mexican sunflower were sampled in four soil sampling points (SSP) and plant sampling points (PSP) which are 50, 100, 150 and 200 m away from the industry. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in the soil and plant digest were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Some physicochemical properties like pH, electrical conductivity and organic matter were also measured. The result of the analysis of the heavy metals in the soil was in the sequence Fe > Zn > Cu >Pb> Cr at SSP1 SSP2 and SSP4 while Fe > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb at SSP3. In the plant, the result showed the presence of these heavy metals except Pb which was not present in any sampling points. The concentration of iron (Fe) in the plant decreased away from PSP1 to PSP4 around the industry. The physicochemical properties like pH which influenced the availability of metals in soil were found to increase away from SSP1 to SSP4 and consequently its effect on the concentration of these heavy metals in plants, particularly for Fe and Zn. Although, heavy metals monitored were within the permissible limit of WHO except Fe in soil, the trend of their presence in

Sparks of Life: The Concept of Fire in Iron Working

The author discusses fire as a concept, with an emphasis on traditional iron working and its links with bodily based experiences played out as material metaphors as well as mental conceptions. In East African iron using communities, iron smelting was cloaked in secrecy, seclusion and gendered sexual connotations. An elaborate use of bodily based metaphors guided the use of magic and medicines and created moral laws during periods of smelting. The article will attempt to explain how concepts of fire were related to this. Some preliminary comparisons are made between Greek, Norse and African myths and legends about smiths and their role as 'masters of fire'. Finally, by drawing on case studies based on fieldwork among Fipa and Pangwa blacksmiths and former iron smelters, the author will explore the interconnections between concepts of fire, bodily based metaphors and metal production.