2009.154.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Six fragments of non diagnostic slag. [FC 10/11/2009; MN 10/11/2009]

Geographical reference

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Scotland Western Isles Barvas Galson

Person

Field collector Donald Ferlys Wilson Baden-Powell

Field collector Charles Elton

PRM source Donald Ferlys Wilson Baden-Powell

Date / Period

Archaeological period: Iron Age, uncertain

Acquisition information

Found unentered: 10/10/2009

Materials and processes

Material Slag Metal, Material Iron Metal

Dimensions

Weight 18 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 2009.154.1

Research and responses

This slag may be from the Iron Age settlement located in 'Sand Park' field, north of Galson farmhouse (NB 4364 5943). The site was first excavated by Arthur J H Edwards in 1923. In the report of the excavation published the following year ('Report on the excavation of an earth-house at Galston, Borve, Lewis', Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland vol. 58: 185-203) the plan of 'Earth-house C' (fig. 5, p.191) shows four chambers (numbered 1 - 4). Consequently it is possible (though unlikely) that 2009.153.1 is from chamber 4, although Edwards does not mention any slag being recovered from here. [MN 10/11/2009]

In 1933 and 1935 Donald Baden-Powell and Charles Elton undertook excavations at Galston, primarily interested in the geological formation of the site they excavated four areas. In the report of the excavation (published in 1937, 'On the relation between a raised beach and an Iron Age midden on the Island of Lewis, Outer Hebrides' in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol. 71: pp 347-65) they note the recovery of two fragments of iron slag from 'Excavation C', "A vertical section...cut through the midden at a point much nearer the western end of the exposure" (p. 349). Given the subsequent relationship between Baden-Powell and the PRM it is possible that slag (2009.153.1 & 2009.154.1) was collected by Powell. Later in the article a chemical analysis of the slag fragments is provided (pages 354 - 355): "Two pieces of slaggy material were found in Excavation C, at different levels, and we are indebted to Mr F. Parker for making a chemical examination of these specimens. The first was found at a depth of 6 inches in the midden layer, and it appears to be a piece of iron ore, but as it is slightly vesicular it has been subjected to heat. It was found by qualitative analysis to contain the following:— Iron, 64-5808 per cent. Silicon, abundant. Magnesium, calcium, and aluminium, a trace. Under the microscope this material is opaque, except in very thin fragments, which are reddish brown, and isotropic, as they show no interference figure. This substance does not give the normal streak for limonite. The second of these two objects "was found at a depth of 3 feet 6 inches in the midden layer—that is to say, near its base. It is much more vesicular and slaggy in appearance than the first piece, and, in fact, appears to be a true iron slag. Chemical examination proved that it contains: Iron, 31-441 per cent. Silicon, abundant. Magnesium and phosphorus, fairly common. Calcium, a trace. Carbonate, a trace. Under the microscope, a white mineral which is present was proved by its optical properties to be quartz, but the darker part of the specimen was not mineralogically determinable. This specimen gave no streak. The quartz was included in the above analysis, mixed with the darker." Unfortunately it is not currently known which of the two analyses may refer to 2009.154.1. [MN 09/04/2010]

The site is recorded on the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) Canmore database of archaeological sites under site no. NB45NW 2.00 (Canmore ID 4357). The record can be accessed online at http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/. [MN 09/04/2010]

Associated publications

Possibly described on pages 354 - 355 of the 1937 paper by Donald Baden-Powell and Charles Elton 'On the relation between a raised beach and an Iron Age midden on the Island of Lewis, Outer Hebrides' in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (Vol. 71: pp 347-365). See Research notes for details. [copy in RDF: Collectors: Baden-Powell, D]. [MN 09/04/2010]

Search terms: Specimen, Metallurgy