Fuel Resources for Ferrous Metallurgy in the Perm Cis-Urals in the Medieval Period (experience in determining charcoal by scanning electron microscopy)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2025.1.303.314Keywords:
archaeology, anthracology, charcoal, fuel, metallurgy, slag, Middle Ages, Perm Cis-Urals, scanning electron microscopyAbstract
The paper presents the results of an instrumental anatomical study of charcoal. The aim of this work is to characterize the metallurgical process. There are several examples of charcoal as an object of study in the literature. Archaeological materials from medieval settlements of the Permian Urals served as a source. A total of 13 samples were taken, but this is an incomplete list. Wood is very poorly preserved in local acidic soils. Charcoal represents solid particles formed at industrial facilities (metallurgical furnace and coal pit), as well as individual inclusions in metallurgical slags. The analysis showed that charcoal is three quarters pine and one quarter birch. These species have high thermal efficiency. At the same time, judging by the natural and geographical situation in the region (according to palynological studies), birch and pine are among the most accessible types of vegetation. Both individual species and a mixture of pine-birch coal could be used for smelting one metal. The tree stand of the Permian Urals was not limited to two species. Ancient metallurgists consciously and rationally approached the choice of wood for the metallurgical process.
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