Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c20.s3.t9.4

v1.c20.s3.t9.4

As regards the actual mode of smelting, the evidence is not clear, though certain broad inferences are possible. Alternate deposits of charcoal mixed with the iron slag and a whitish powder, possibly lime, as stated above, occurring in an exposed section, point to a simple method of smelting. Probably charcoal and iron ore were laid in alternate courses, covering the entire pile thickly with clay to prevent the heat from escaping. The heaped circular kiln must have been provided with passages for the intake of air and escape of gases. Banerjee (1965: 179) refers to the ‘outlets for molten iron’, but we doubt that the iron could be molten in the primitive furnace. The solid wrought iron must have been hammered to drive out the molten slag inclusions.