Work

Bloomery slags from Puisaye (France): reconstructing technological changes in a major iron production area from the Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Archaeological research conducted as part of the PCR and TerriFer project in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region has identified Puisaye as a major center of primary iron production, active from the Iron Age through to the end of the Middle Ages. A total of 161 slag heaps were investigated and sampled through surface surveys, excavations and waste collection. The bloomery slags were classified based on their morphology, chemical composition, and mineralogical characteristics. These data were cross-referenced with 120 radiocarbon dates, allowing us to associate specific slag types with distinct periods of activity and to track technological changes over time. This makes Puisaye a key region for studying the long-term evolution of iron smelting techniques in Western Europe.

Source: Journal of Archaeological Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2026.106475