Saxon iron bloom from iron smelting

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While this may not look like much, this iron bloom is some of the best suriving evidence we have for iron working in Hamwic. When iron ore is smelted, the initial piece of iron is called a bloom. It is then worked into a bar so that it can be used for smithing.

From the late Roman period onwards raw iron became a rare commodity and much iron work was made from recycling.

The bloom has been cut in half for scientific analysis which is how we are able to see what it looks like internally.

The bloom has been laser scanned as part of a collaborative project between Southampton Cultural Services and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Southampton.