Xander Veldhuijzen
Institute of Archaeology, University College London
Remains of an early iron smelting operation were excavated at Tell Hammeh (az-Zarqa), Jordan, by Yarmouk University of Jordan and Leiden University of the Netherlands. These remains are (provisionally) dated to Iron Age II, from the early 10th century BC and/or the second half of the 8th century BC. The finds range from different types of slag, to rejected ore, tuyères, and molten and vitrified furnace wall, and represent a very large part of an iron smelting chaîne opératoire. Both the very wide range and large quantity of the material form an example of iron production that is unique, and among the oldest, worldwide.
This paper will first present an overview of the 2000 season of excavations at Hammeh, and the range of iron smelting related material excavated. Secondly, it treats the questions, goals and methods underlying the ongoing research on the smelting remains. Lastly, this paper investigates the meaning of these finds. It will look at the influence Hammeh may have on currently held ideas about issues such as the origin of iron production, independent invention versus diffusion or spread of technological knowledge, and technological choice.
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