Fipa Furnaces and Slag: Distinguishing Criteria Based on Physical Analysis

Abstract

Excavations and ground reconnaissance in December 2009 at Sumbawanga district, in southwestern Tanzania, revealed complete remains of natural draft iron smelting furnaces locally called ilungu (sing.) or malungu (pl.) standing up to 2.8 - 3.1 m tall. The aim of the study was to identify remains of indigenous African iron smelting furnaces on the landscape of Fipaland, examine the slag from the identified furnaces as very little amount of attention has been paid to furnace structures and analysis of the resultant residues. It has been usually studied in isolation of one of the order, while more attention was paid to furnace types; less has been done on slag analysis; in order to make for more reliable identification and develop a criteria for distinguishing this fast disappearing cultural heritage.