End view of a fired clay tuyere fragment used in an iron smelting furnace. A thick layer of slag produced during the smelting process coats the tuyere's outside surface (upper right). The tuyere was used to introduce air to the interior chamber of a smelting furnace. The tuyere was collected during site survey by N. Leith Smith in the course of his doctoral dissertation research. The tuyere was recovered in his survey area A, Site 7, Quad P14. Banda area, 8 February, 1997.
Side view of a fired clay tuyere fragment used in an iron smelting furnace. A thick layer of slag produced during the smelting process coats the tuyere's outside surface. The tuyere was used to introduce air to the interior chamber of a smelting furnace. The tuyere was collected during site survey by N. Leith Smith in the course of his doctoral dissertation research. The tuyere was recovered in his survey area A, Site 7, Quad P14. A catalog tag indicating provenience information is tied to the tuyere with string. Banda area, 8 February, 1997.