IAMS Summer School in Archaeometallurgy 2017: Registrations Open

Running for two decades, the IAMS Summer School in Archaeometallugy is offered to anyone interested in the archaeology of metallurgy.

The course is aimed at professionals, academics, students, and enthusiasts and covers a diverse range of topics, including mining, metal production, experimental reconstruction, field methods, to the analysis of metallic artefacts. Lectures typically cover both ferrous and non-ferrous metals and will involve artefact handling sessions as well as, depending on the topic, demonstrations with analytical instruments or field experiments.

This year, the Summer School will take place 12-23 June, primarily at the Institute of Archaeology but also including three day experimental iron smelting workshop in Monkton Up Wimborne, Dorset. You can find a preliminary programme below. If you have any queries, or would like to register, please get in touch with Carlotta Farci (carlotta.farci.13@ucl.ac.uk).

Week 1 (12-16 June): Archaeometallurgy of early metal production: foundations, materials and analyses

Monday: Foundations. Ores, smelting, crucibles, furnaces and slag (Marcos Martinón-Torres)

Tuesday am: Early metallurgy in the Balkans (Miljana Radivojevic)

Tuesday pm: Handling session (Miljana Radivojevic)

Wednesday am: Early metallurgy in the Iberian Peninsula (Ignacio Montero-Ruiz)

Wednesday pm: Early metallurgy in China (Kunlong Chen)

Thursday am: Non-ferrous metallurgy: mixed topics (Thilo Rehren)

Thursday pm: handling session (Thilo Rehren)

Friday am: Foundations of iron smelting (Thilo Rehren)

Friday pm: handling session (Thilo Rehren)

Week 2 (19-23 June): Archaeometallurgy of iron: field, metallography and experiments

Monday: Fieldwork and excavation of metallurgical sites. Iron smithing. (Brigitte Cech)

Tuesday: Metallography and microstructure of iron objects (Eleanor Blakelock)

Wednesday-Friday: Experimental iron smelting workshop. Monton Up Wimborne, Dorset, UK. (Jake Keen/ Marcos Martinón-Torres)

A three-day workshop led by experienced iron smelter Jake Keen, together with archaeometallurgist Marcos Martinón-Torres. The workshop will focus primarily on the practical aspects of bloomer iron smelting, to follow the class-based introductions to the archaeology and science of iron smelting. It will include ore preparation and roasting, furnace construction, smelting in two types of furnaces (induced and natural draft), slag formation and smithing. Students will be expected to get actively involved in these activities.

[Logistics: Departure from London on Wednesday morning, and return on Friday evening. Students will spend two nights at the nearby Church Farm camping site, which has showers, electricity and all necessary facilities, but they will be expected to bring their camping gear (tent and sleeping bag). Most of the day activities will take place outdoors, so waterproof clothing and strong boots will be necessary too. Let us know if you have trouble getting camping gear, though we would appreciate it if students could sort out these issues among themselves]


Registration fees: Week 1: £200

Week 2: £300 (includes travel, accommodation, and meals during the experimental workshop)

Two weeks: £450

Contact: Carlotta Farci (carlotta.farci.13@ucl.ac.uk)

Some additional subsidy may be available for students in financial hardship - please contact Marcos Martinón-Torres if you would like to discuss this (m.martinon-torres@ucl.ac.uk)

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