• Zaour, Nolwenn
• Lepaumier, Hubert
• Fluzin, Philippe
• Berranger, Marion

Abstract

The metallurgical waste products of the Orval « Les Pleines » site in la Manche which were evidenced during archaeological trial trenching have been studied with a specific protocol developed during the excavation. The distribution, of specific magnetic elements, shows the presence of at least one workshop associated with the first phase of occupation of the site (early La Tène/middle La Tène). The metallographic analysis of the forging slag-cakes makes it possible to specify the types of activities practiced and the nature of the productions. We thus propose a synthetic study both archaeological and archeometric of the main results in regard of the local context. The presence of poly-metallic waste (iron and copper alloy) from the second Iron Age enclosure settlement is indeed not rare. The inventory of the remains associated with these activities shows that over 60% of the Norman settlements excavated since 1991 most probably comprised a forge. This rate demonstrates how common the practise of poste réduction was in these Gallic rural settlements, making forging actually one of the best represented craft activities

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• phase
• laser emission spectroscopy
• copper
• iron
• forging
• copper alloy