Context

Iron production relying on the bloomery process spread throughout Western Europe from the 8^th to 5^th centuries BCE. Over time, the process underwent several phases of development before gradually disappearing, as indirect iron production grew evermore widespread in the 14^th and 15^th centuries. Over the course of this long period, many different production areas took shape, in which there was considerable variation in the location and organisation of workshops, as well as the technical skills employed. The evolution of these production areas over time has yet to be established.

Over the last ten years, major advances have been made in the study production areas of raw iron, thanks to thematic research programmes, archaeological excavation and academic work. The completion of the ‘TerriFer - Dynamiques techniques et Territoriales en métallurgie du fer’ project (2022-2025), funded by the Region and the DRAC of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, and the subject of a collaboration between IRAMAT, ArTeHis and the MSHE Ledoux, provides an opportunity to take stock of these advances by encouraging exchanges between researchers. This conference will provide an opportunity to summarise recently undertaken work throughout Western Europe, while offering a critical review of methodologies used both in the field and in the laboratory.

Papers summarising the results of recent surveys and excavations of smelting workshops (bloomery process) in Western Europe are expected. Without being exclusive, three main themes are proposed. Specific methodological presentations may also be offered, even if they are focused on other geographical and chrono-cultural areas.

  - Spatio-temporal and technical analysis of production areas

The aim is to provide chronological and spatial analyses of iron production areas at different scales, to define their characteristics and classify them. Reconstructing production techniques based on field data as well as archaeological and archaeometric analysis of waste shall similarly be central to this theme.

  - The place of bloomery production in the iron economy and its environment

 An attempt will be made to define the importance and place of these areas of bloomery production in the iron economy, as well as to retrace the trade networks into which they were integrated. The evaluation of production volumes (quantitative and qualitative aspects) and the study of chemical filiations (ore-slag-object) will also be central. How do these production areas fit into the territories they occupy? How does the location of smelting workshops relate to that of mines, settlements, agricultural and forestry areas, communication routes, political and administrative ‘frontiers’, etc.? Do these bloomery production areas contrast with zones where iron was ‘not produced’: where, when, how and why? Papers dealing with the study of environment of the smelting workshops are also expected.

 - Contributions and limitations of current methodologies applied to the study of mines and smelting workshops

The aim is to present case studies and discuss the contributions, limitations and prospects of methodologies applied both in the field and in the lab. Dating smelting sites is often complex: what are the uses, specific interests and developments of the most commonly used methods (typology, radiocarbon, etc.)? What is the contribution of methods such as geophysics or LiDAR? How can we locate and study mines that are often difficult to identify around smelting zones? What new methodological perspectives exist?

A half-day of discussion and study, bringing together a limited number of participants will be organised around the theme of ‘open science in iron archaeometallurgy: disseminating and sharing data’. The aim will be to give feedback on the various solutions employed by recent research projects and collectively define future standards to enable the unification of data produced in iron archaeometallurgy at a European scale around common solutions. Various aspects will be addressed: databases and spatial databases; vocabulary, thesauruses  and the semantic web; metadata and user licences; Data Management Plan, format and nature of the data to be stored; the data warehouse, digital publications and data papers.

Marion Berranger (IRAMAT-UMR7065-CNRS-UTBM) - Matthieu Thivet (Chrono-environnement-UMR6249-UFC) - Pierre Nouvel (Artehis-UMR6298-UB) - Marc Leroy (IRAMAT-UMR7065-MC)

Contact : marion.berranger at utbm.fr

In France, nearly twenty years have passed since the last symposium dedicated to ancient siderurgy, which focused on the iron age (the 2004 AFEAF symposium in Toulouse). Since then, the discipline has undergone profound changes, while at the same time strengthening its inherently interdisciplinary roots. For instance, ‘palaeometallurgy’ has recently been recognised as a speciality in its own right within the field of preventive archaeology. Long neglected, iron and steel waste is now systematically taken into account during excavations.

The dynamism of iron archaeology can be seen in the many monographs and specialist articles it has produced, as well as the regular seminars and round tables held on specific topics. The vitality of this research justifies holding a colloquium covering the entire iron chaîne opératoire, in order to take stock of recent work and discuss recent advances in methodology.

From ore extraction to metal smelting and object shaping, the breadth of the subject justifies the organisation of a two-part conference. The first, dedicated to the study of raw iron production areas in their environment, will be held in 2025 at the MSHE in Besançon. The second, devoted to the transformation from metal to finished objects, will be organised in 2026 at the University of Tours. Two separate calls for papers will be published successively. The aim is to provide a forum for specialists, experts and novices alike, and to publish the proceedings in an open-access format in order to offer a new perspective on this constantly evolving discipline.