Slag characterization from the Roman vicus of Eisenberg (Germany)

Abstract The Roman vicus of Eisenberg in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) has always been considered to be an important iron smelting centre due numerous slag finds and relicts furnaces. Most excavations that revealed working debris have performed the nineteenth or early twentieth century. Their results interpretations doubtful, but more recent brought light further relics processes, which not, however, helped clarify situation. Therefore, ore fragments from two locations discovery were selected for investigation, because no systematic investigations carried out on slags other so far, despite enormous importance such a place. first this investigation clearly prove slag-tapping furnaces during times morphology slag, they also show metallurgical is obviously not situ used as filling material. In addition, high-grade haematite ores found ground could serve source smelting.