Abstract

The seminar will present the results of a PhD project focusing on East African archaeometallurgy. The research project explored iron production technologies and exchange networks in 500-1500 CE Swahili contexts. The aim of the study was to understand the socioeconomic role of iron production and examine material and technological networks in the region. The project studied 7 sites located largely on Tanzanian islands. Iron slag from these sites was examined using optical microscopy and XRF . The results were used to inform our understanding of technological traditions of iron production, their scale, and spatial organization of the craft. This is the first such study carried out in the region. The seminar will outline the results of the study and explain how they transformed our understanding of Swahili metal working.