The role of the iron ore deposit of Mugharet el-Wardeh / Jordan in the development of the use of iron in southern Bilad el-Sham

Abstract

Chalcolithic period hematitic mace heads collected from different archaeological sites; Late Bronze copper lump, iron slag and iron ore samples from Mugharet el-Wardeh were analysed into their chemistry, mineralogy and lead isotopes. Mugharet el-Wardeh was exploited since the Chalcolithic period to produce high valuable objects. Those people were also familiar with copper smelting. Copper smelters of the Bronze Ages occasionally produced phosphor rich useless iron. Accumulated knowledge of a metal other than copper when smelting some kinds of copper ores and the knowledge about the iron ore mine of MeW played a vital role in the development of iron smelting. Iron Age II iron metallurgical remains were uncovered in different sites. Extra amounts of SiO\(_{2}\) and CaO were used during Iron Age II. In later periods, reduced amounts were used. During the Ayyubid-Mamluki period, different amounts of SiO\(_{2}\) were used in the smelting process. This would have resulted due to extreme need of iron.

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