Making and trading iron in the Swahili world: an archaeometallurgical study of iron production technologies in coastal Tanzania

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• Dr Ema Bauzyte, University of Cambridge
• Friday 30 April 2021, 13:15-14:00
• Online via zoom.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Laura Courto.

https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJctceuvrj0jGNUXmaepR0CFYq_aXUUR46e9

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.

This talk is part of the Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• Online via zoom
• Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series

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