Archaeologists uncover evidence of iron smelting and weapon forging at a temple excavation site. Prof. Mark Horton examines how this sparkling iron ore may have inspired the legend of King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur.
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TRANSCRIPT
-Inside the temple, the excavation reveals another possible connection to the Camelot legends.
-I think thats almost pure iron.
-Is that pure iron?
It is, isn't it?
Gosh, thats slightly slightly sparkly.
[LAUGHS] Yes.
-These are slag remains, evidence the site was used for smelting, creating iron metal by heating up iron ore.
But examining the spoil heap with a powerful magnet reveals an even more intriguing piece of evidence.
-Can you see, so this is a tiny piece of hammer scale.
When you make weapons like swords, and you have to hit the iron really hard, and ou comes little splinters of iron that look literally like the scales on fish.
So, whats significant about the hammer scale on this magnet is that that is the evidence for smithing, so they're not just making the iron, but they're also forging the iron into weapons.
-Mark suspects the story of Arthur drawing the sword Excalibur from the stone could have its origins in weapons being made from the sparkling iron ore, known as hematite, found in this area.
With Camelot stories, there are ideas about magical swords coming out of stones, the iron that is coming from here, seams of hematite, this magical substance, and of course if they make weapons within a temple precinct then they probably will be endued with magical and spiritual qualities that will enable them to be victorious in battle.