Iron smelting in africa. Traditional Iron Smelting In Eastern Zambia 2022-11-16

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Iron smelting in Africa has a long history dating back to pre-colonial times. Africa is rich in iron ore deposits and has a long tradition of iron smelting. However, the traditional methods of iron smelting have been largely replaced by modern methods in many African countries.

Iron smelting involves the use of heat and chemical reactions to extract iron from iron ore. The ore is usually smelted in a furnace, which is fueled by coke or charcoal. The furnace is heated to a high temperature, and the iron ore is reduced to a molten form called pig iron. The pig iron is then poured into molds to create iron products such as bars or sheets.

In traditional iron smelting in Africa, the furnace was often a simple clay structure called a "bloomery." The bloomery was fueled by wood or charcoal and heated to a temperature of around 1000°C. The iron ore was placed in the bloomery with the fuel, and the heat caused the iron to separate from the ore. The iron was then pounded and shaped into the desired form.

One of the key advantages of traditional iron smelting in Africa was that it could be done on a small scale, using local resources. This made it an important part of the economy in many African communities. However, traditional iron smelting has several limitations. It is an energy-intensive process and requires large amounts of fuel. The iron produced is often low in quality and contains impurities.

In recent years, modern iron smelting techniques have been introduced in many African countries. These techniques use large, specialized furnaces that are fueled by coal or natural gas. The iron ore is melted at a much higher temperature, and the resulting iron is of a higher quality and purity. Modern iron smelting is more efficient and produces less pollution than traditional methods.

Despite the benefits of modern iron smelting, traditional methods of iron smelting are still practiced in some parts of Africa. This is often due to a lack of access to modern technology or the high cost of modern equipment. However, as African countries continue to develop and modernize, it is likely that traditional iron smelting will become increasingly rare.

In conclusion, iron smelting has been an important part of African history and culture. While traditional iron smelting methods have largely been replaced by modern techniques, they remain a significant part of the continent's heritage.

Iron metallurgy in Africa

iron smelting in africa

This can be only confirmed if there was enough information about the same. Ancient African Metallurgy, The Socio- Cultural Context. Springer Nature was formed in 2015 through the merger of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media. Prospection archéologique du massif du Termit Niger. Archaeological interest in metal working also focused on the social organisation of metal working and the social standing of the smith. African iron working has been the subject of Western ethnographies for well over a century.

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History of Iron Smelting Technology in Sub

iron smelting in africa

The use of iron ushered in an Iron Age in Africa, with the expansion of agriculture, industry, trade, and political power. Based on this framework, the site of Meroe was proposed by Arkell as an important link and the general belief was that the collapse of the Kingdom of Kush precipitated the spread of technology and Meroitic culture into the southwest Kense 13. The topic has long attracted interest from Western academics both in terms of its technology and its symbolism , but there has been a notable increase in the pace of research in the last decade or two. Nobody cared about steel in these areas until later in 1890s. Frankfurt, Germany: Africa Magna Verlag Press. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. Frankfurt, Germany: Africa Magna Verlag Press.

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The Age of Iron in West Africa

iron smelting in africa

Beer and food used to be provided at the site. Some of us cannot afford to buy these modern hoes because of lack of money. Copper was also used in the ornamenting of personal belongings, the inlaying of decorations on knife handles, the binding of spear hafts with fine copper wire, and the embellishing of shields with burnished copper nails. Ethnographical information has been very useful in reconstructing the events surrounding iron production in the past, however the reconstructions could have become distorted through time and influence by anthropologist's studies. It is clear that the people at this African Regions adopted the iron making technology from the Northern people. Kòmò encompasses a triangle of power: blacksmith leaders, power objects including masks and altars, and wilderness spirits.


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Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths

iron smelting in africa

Never intended to carve wood, the adze represented smooth-cutting diplomacy, straight talk, and efficient negotiation. The East, Central and Southern Africa were inhabited mostly by Bantu speaking people. She suggests that the difficulties of working phosphoric steel led smiths to decarburise the blooms regularly but not exclusively before working. The aspect of this industry which provoked the most interest amongst Westerners was the role of magic and symbolism. Schmidt had already used archaeological and ethnohistorical methods to reconstruct Iron Age settlement and history around Lake Victoria. The chapter by David and Robertson offers a welcome examination of iron smithing rather than smelting.


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Traditional Iron Smelting In Eastern Zambia

iron smelting in africa

Metallography showed that this bloom was of steel rather than iron. In the final chapter in the book, Childs presents the detailed scientific examination of ores, slag, and metal from ancient and recent iron smelting in north-western Tanzania. In Africa, unlike Europe and Asia, the Iron Age is not prefaced by a Bronze or Copper Age, but rather all the metals were brought together. Appropriate technology can be looked at from three possible perspectives: 1 the national technology or massive economy perspective, 2 the intermediate perspective, and 3 individual perspective. Niamey: Institut de Récherches en Sciences Humaines Études Nigeriennes, no.

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Iron Metallurgy in Africa

iron smelting in africa

In chapter 10, Schmidt examines some of the more comprehensive ethnographic accounts of iron smelting from elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. Central Africa is comprised of Zambia and Malawi while Southern Africa constitute of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Bostwana, and South Africa. Some of the difficulties which Schmidt had to negotiate illustrate how easily one might form a simplistic model of 'traditional' iron smelting. She retyped in November 2010 the old faded manuscript from 29 years ago in 1981. This interpretation is true for the rest of the figures in the table.

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The untold history of ironworking in central and west Africa

iron smelting in africa

Mwaona ivi vyati bii apa nkhutaya kula. Kense 1982 Meroitic iron working, in: N. Despite the decline of traditional African iron working a number of researchers e. This is where using goatskin bags again as bellows, the Cuma was put in the fire again. Frankfurt, Germany: Africa Magna Verlag Press.

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African Iron Age

iron smelting in africa

This has often been enriched by the co-operation of specialists from many different academic fields especially ethnography and metallurgy. In such instances the meaning of the Tumbuka word can be found in the key in the appendix of the report. In most regions of Africa they fell out of use before 1950. However, the women were only allowed within 30-40 feet of the furnace. They were also recorded and used in other parts of the world with ease. Chokwe or Lunda artist Democratic Republic of the Congo Ceremonial axe Early 20th century Wood, iron, copper Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Paris, 71.

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