Iron slag is formed as a byproduct of iron smelting. Here a large slag nodule has broken in half, revealing its interior texture. At the archaeological site of Ngre Kataa, large chunks of 'bubbly' slag like this were occasionally found in household and other contexts, away from areas otherwise associated with metal-working activities. Potters at the time of the site's occupation had begun to use crushed iron slag as a tempering agent in their potting clays, which may explain why large nodules were being carried and cached in areas away from metal-working locations. Ngre Kataa, June, 2008.
Photo of an everted-rim pottery jar excavated from Ngre Kataa, Mound 4, Unit 1, Level 20. The jar was located in the west profile wall of the unit. The jar has a carinated shoulder and a rounded base. A single horizontal line of wavy line impression was applied to the neck constriction, with the area above the carination otherwise plain. The base of the jar is surface treated with a fiber (perhaps braided strip) roulette. Two roughly parallel horizontal grooved lines are superimposed over the roulette treatment. Whole pot. Rim diameter 17.5 cm at exterior lip. Photo scale in cm. Site Ngre Kataa ("Banda 40"). 3 April, 2001.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Provenance:
Ngre Kataa (Banda 40), Mound 4, Unit 1, Level 20, W Wall.