An Iron Smelt at Vinland

An Iron smelt at Vinland
Working towards a reconstruction of the L'Anse aux Meadows Smelt

Starting in Winter of 2009, detailed investigations of the the archaeology of L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (site of the first iron smelt in North America, c 1000 AD) was started. There has always been some uncertainty about what exactly the remains excavated at the site indicated. The purpose of the Vinland series of smelts is to interpret the archaeology in light of what has been learned through research and direct experience over the last decade. These aspects will be combined into a full scale historic re-creation of the original Norse iron smelt, scheduled for August 23, 2010 at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC.

Details of the investigation and its results will be reported in a paper currently under preparation. A final version of the paper should not be expected until well after the August 2010 full 'all Viking Age equipment' demonstration.

Separate topic elements have been published in a series of short articles on the blog 'Hammered Out Bits'. These pieces certainly represent a work in progress, often repeating themselves, and in some cases later articles differing from earlier ones as details became clear:

"Vinland Smelt - Matching the Evidence" - December 07, 2009

"Clay at L'Anse aux Meadows?" - October 25, 2009

"A Furnace at Vinland - Construction Possibilities" - October 22, 2009

"Input = Output : LAM One Smelt" - June 5, 2009

"LAM 'Furnace Hut' Photographs" - May 29, 2009

"A Furnace for Vinland" - May 28, 2009

"L'Anse aux Meadows Smelt - Working Area" - May 05, 2009

"L'Anse aux Meadows Smelt - Ore Analog" - May 04, 2009