One of the main question asked of archaeologists is where an object has come from. In copper metallurgy the use of lead isotopes can reveal information about ore source and therefore the origin of an object.
This has proven more difficult for iron artefacts, which have no lead. For many years there have been very few attempts to trace iron artefacts to their source. But in the last few years researchers are moving closer to a method to provenance iron, utilising slag inclusions. My MSc and subsequent research has shown that it may indeed be possible to use the slag that is trapped in the iron during the bloomery process to provenance iron artefacts to their iron production site.Bulk element studies of slag inclusions using SEM-EDS, can be compared to slag analysed from around the country to identify possible production regions. Trace elemental studies of iron and slag may provide even more elements to identify the production site. This type of analysis works best if a possible
Bulk element studies of slag inclusions using SEM-EDS, can be compared to slag analysed from around the country to identify possible production regions. Trace elemental studies of iron and slag may provide even more elements to identify the production site. This type of analysis works best if a possible smelting site has been identified (and a selection of slag analysed for comparison). Even so there are still many questions and debates on slag inclusion analysis and provenance, some of which I discuss in my research.