Iron production in the Etruscan site of Populonia: new data

Populonia played a key role for metals (mainly iron) production and trade in the Mediterranean region in the 1st Millennium BC. In this paper we report preliminary results of the archaeological survey carried out at Populonia in the slag beach deposit occurring along the shoreline of Baratti Gulf, near the ancient S. Cerbone chapel. This deposit of metallurgical wastes accumulated during Etruscan and Roman times, is one of the few places where the original stratigraphy of slagsis mostly preserved. Archaeological excavations in the investigated area revealed the presence of several metallurgical furnaces, two of which, particularly well preserved, have been radiocarbon dated to the IV-II cent. BC and V-III cent. BC respectively. Furnace walls are made of local sandstones arranged in a horseshoe, quadrangular shape. Abundant slags of plano-convex shape are spatially associated with the two furnaces. The overall features (i.e., shapes and sizes of the furnaces; type and composition of the associated metallurgical debris) suggest that these structures are smithing/reheating hearths. They are different in shape and size from any other metallurgical structures previously described at Populonia.