The roman bloomery workshop of « Roche Brune » (Pezé-le-Robert, Sarthe, France)
Résumé
This paper addresses the excavation of the Roman bloomery worshop of "Roche Brune" (Pezé-le-Robert, Sarthe), in northwest France. This site was perfectly preserved due to its location along a creek, in a forest which was never ploughed. Three slag were discovered at the location during field survey in 2005. Topographical studies led to an evaluation of their volume to 1900 m3 . During the 2006 and 2007 excavation campaigns, two furnaces were discovered inside a 100 m² building made of wood. The presence of more than 2000 potsherds allows dating the site to a period between AD 70 and 170. Chemical analysis, ore and charcoal studies provided data for a calcation of the process yield and the production of the workschop.