Iron and Steel in Ancient Greece

Description

This work examines the iron metallurgy of Aegean Thrace as a culturally generated activity. The methodology used combines archaeological evidence from recent excavations, analytical data from optical and chemical analyses of industrial waste and iron artefacts, and documentary and iconographic evidence. The aims of the work are to establish the level of effectiveness in iron technology as it was practised in Aegean Thrace from Classical to Roman times, to understand indigenous involvement in iron production and to interpret the social context of iron technology. The long-term aim is to determine whether there are aspects of technological, economic, artistic or symbolic uses of iron which are reflected in culturally distinct groups living within the same area (in this case, Thracian versus Greek or Roman). Finally, an attempt is made to provide a theoretical and methodological model for the archaeological and archaeometallurgical study of interaction between ancient technology and society.