| Abstract: |
The traditional view of the development of metallurgy is that only limited temperatures were attainable in early charcoal furnaces, and that smelting ability progressed from lead to iron as furnace temperature capability improved. It is demonstrated here by present-day combustion technology and by reference to published test work that a simple charcoal furnace 30 cm in diameter with a single tuyere easily powered by one man can reach 1,600 C in temperature and smelt iron ore to molten cast iron. The production of bloomery iron actually requires a decrease in furnace temperature. The application of the combustion of charcoal to various furnaces and the quantitative analysis of a shaft furnace are reviewed and it is pointed out that early development of metallurgy must have been much more conditioned by the availability of ore deposits than by furnace capability.
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