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June 2006 Newsletter


Iron Smelting in Wollega, Ethiopia

By Temesgen Burka

Illustrations

iron smelting illustration
Extraction of ore from pit (all images by author).


iron smelting illustration
Mining pit.


iron smelting illustration
Ore washing at Hagamsa Faallee.


iron smelting illustration
Ore after initial washing.


iron smelting illustration
Microscopic view of Walagee iron ore
with hematite, lemonite and quartz inclusions.


iron smelting illustration
Clay pounding and madabaii tuyere making.


iron smelting illustration
Implements made and used
in extraction and smelting process.


iron smelting illustration
Makkalu -- preparation of bag bellows.


iron smelting illustration
Charcoal preparation in a pit.


iron smelting illustration
Bag bellows with horn and iron tuyeres.


iron smelting illustration
Preparing pit furnace for second round of smelting.


iron smelting illustration
Second smelting, with ore
and charcoal added by the leeccaqtu.


iron smelting illustration
Resultant iron smelt.


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©2006 African Diaspora Archaeology Network
Please send comments or questions to: cfennell@uiuc.edu
Last updated: June 25, 2006
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