The basque bloomery furnace “horno vasco”:New findings of a large iron smelting furnace and historical perspective
- Xabier Orue-Etxebarria 1
- Pedro Pablo Gil-Crespo 2
- Iñaki Yusta 2
- José Miguel Herrero 2
- Amaia Basterretxea 3
- Julio Astigarraga 4
- Félix Réparaz 5
- Elorriaga Orive, Javier
- Luis Carlos de Andrés 7
- Estibaliz Apellaniz 1
- Xabier Laka 6
- 1 Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología de la UPV/EHU
- 2 Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología de la UPV/EHU
- 3 Euskal Museoa / Museo Vasco, Bilbao.
- 4 Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Bilbao, UPV/EHU
- 5 Gerdau Aceros Especiales Europa S.L.
- 6 Departamento de Escultura, Facultad de Bellas Artes, UPV/EHU
- 7 Departamento de Matemáticas, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología de la UPV/EHU
ISSN: 1888-8615
Year of publication: 2015
Issue: 25
Pages: 11-26
Type: Article
More publications in: De re metallica ( Madrid ): revista de la Sociedad Española para la Defensa del Patrimonio Geológico y Minero
Abstract
The ‘Basque furnace’ is a new type of furnace technology that has been recently described and investigated by the authors. Several hundred of these large iron smelting furnaces have been identified in the Basque Country. In spite of the lack of historical references to ascertain the age of the bloomery furnaces, medieval times are suggested. Some of the iron furnaces were later re-used as lime kilns. This paper starts by discussing the historical importance of the production and trade of Basque iron in the Middle Ages, and the sources for the raw material. The furnaces are described and discussed. They were 3 to 4 m in diameter and up to 6 m in height, and were not operated by water-power. The chemical and mineralogical composition of the slag is also characterized. Lastly, suggestions are made as to how the furnace was operated.