Advanced Ancient Steelmaking Across the Arctic European Landscape

Abstract: This article presents results that seriously challenge conventional frameworks regarding the time, course, and cultural context of the introduction of iron and steel in Europe, in turn central metals in the narrative of civilization development. From focusing on 2,000-year-old finds from 42 different sites across the national borders of present-day northernmost Norway, Finland, and Sweden, our study reveals advanced iron and steel production contemporaneous with Roman steel production within the hitherto unthinkable cultural context of hunter-gatherers. By employing archaeometric analyses alongside a lens that considers the Arctic climate and landscape, long-standing inadequate interpretative frameworks are challenged and we manage to shed novel light on the metallurgical practices and skills of the ancient Arctic hunter-gatherers. By examining local conditions, the research specifically reveals adaptation strategies and previously underexplored social and organizational aspects of early ironmaking. The implications of these findings are profound, urging historians and archaeologists to adopt similar methods and perspectives to potentially uncover additional “unthinkable” locations/regions or contexts with advanced and early metalworking.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Standort: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Umfang: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Advanced Ancient Steelmaking Across the Arctic European Landscape ; volume:10 ; number:1 ; year:2024 ; extent:27 ; Open archaeology ; 10, Heft 1 (2024) (gesamt 27)

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Urheber: Bennerhag, Carina ; Söderholm, Kristina

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: 10.1515/opar-2024-0017
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2410301604563.949880266095
• Rechteinformation: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 15.08.2025, 07:34 MESZ