Dansk Jern. En kulturhistorisk analyse af fremstilling, fordeling og brug

Summary

Dansk

Det jern, der blev fremstillet af den danske myremalm fra begyndelsen af førromersk jernalder til op i middelalderen, er helt forskelligt fra det jern, der omgiver os i dag. Det opfører sig anderledes i essen og under smedens hammer. Og redskaber smedet af myremalmsjern er af en anden kvalitet og af et andet udseende end de genstande, der er smedet af moderne jern. Der er to vigtige forskelle: modsat moderne jern indeholder myremalmsjern slagge. Og modsat moderne jern har myremalmsjern en uensartet kvalitet. Det gamle jern er ikke kun bedre eller dårligere end jern i dag. Det er anderledes. Og nutidens smede er ofte tilfredse med at arbejde i myremalmsjern. Det holder god varme og er let at svejse.

I de egne af Danmark, hvor bonden havde adgang til skov og til myremalm af en god kvalitet, var fremstilling af jernsvamp, rensning og smedning integrerede dele af årets arbejde B fra jernalderens begyndelse til langt op i middelalderen. Gennem alle årene var jernteknologien primært knyttet til landbefolkningen og til de civile interesser. Men med mellemrum nød den også militær- og handelspolitisk bevågenhed fra stormænd, høvdinge og konger. For adgangen til de gode jernkvaliteter var selve grundlaget for godt håndværk og godt håndværk gav magt. Lokalt og regionalt.

English

The iron that was produced from Danish bog ore from the beginning of the Pre-Roman Iron Age until well into the Middle Ages is quite different from the iron that surrounds us today. It behaves differently in the forge and under the smith's hammer. And tools forged from bog iron differ in quality and appearance from the objects forged from modern iron. There are two important differences: unlike modern iron bog iron contains slag. And unlike modern iron, bog iron is non¬uniform in quality. The old iron is not simply better or poorer than iron today. It is different. And the smiths of today are often pleased to work with bog iron. It retains heat well and is easy to weld.

In the regions of Denmark where the farmer had access to forest and to bog ore of good quality, the production of sponge, refining and forging were integral parts of the work of the year from the be¬ginning of the Iron Age to well into the Middle Ages. Throughout all these years iron technology was primarily associated with the rural population and civilian concerns. But at intervals it also at¬tracted military and commercial attention from magnates, chieftains and kings. For access to the good iron qualities was the very basis of good craftsmanship and good craftsmanship conferred power, locally and regionally.

Summaries and captions in Russian and English

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• EXARC Experimental Archaeology Collection

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): EXARC Experimental Archaeology Collection Manager

Record Identifiers

ExArc Id(s): 8506

Notes

Rights & Attribution: The information in this record was originally compiled by Dr. Roeland Paardekooper, EXARC Director.