Today's Message
Posted: Wednesday, October 3, 2012Experience the 'Iron Age' with the Art Conservation Department
Students of the Art Conservation Department, under the supervision of faculty members Jonathan Thornton and Aaron Shugar, will conduct an experimental iron smelt using technology appropriate to the Iron Age of ancient Rome and barbarian Europe on October 5 and 6. An iron smelting furnace will be built with clay, straw, and sand on the lawn between Campus House and Lot Y. Iron ore from Virginia will be smelted to produce an iron "bloom" using charcoal as the fuel. The furnace will be built on Friday, October 5, and the smelt will be conducted on Saturday, October 6, with extraction of the bloom (if the operation is successful) near the end of the day. At the same time, other early metalworking technologies will be explored including the smithing of iron and casting of bronze. We will also be making lime from seashell and limestone in a lime kiln. Please feel free to drop by to experience this ancient practice! For more information, call the Art Conservation Department at ext. 5025.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
