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The study of the chemistry and physics of African metal production has received more attention than the biology
of African metal production (tree, plant and animal species that were part and parcel of ironworking processes), because
archaeometallurgists rarely attempt to explain the properties of such species; for example, accounting for their selection
for metal production and processing. One possible reason for such omissions is the rarity or lack of evidence as compared
to slags, furnace walls and tuyères, which are common and durable materials on ironworking sites. In order to redress this
discrepancy, this paper presents an investigation of ethnographic tree species, alongside the criteria used to select such
species for charcoal production, as well as their socio-cultural uses. It becomes apparent that in this part of the continent
ironworkers did not practice omnivorous consumption of wood for ironworking, but instead they were species selective.
Selection criteria for preferred species were dependent on both technical aspects and socio-culturally relevant parameters.
It is argued here that due to species selection, it is improbable that ironworking technology led directly to total deforestation. |
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