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ancient technologies

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Aoife

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ancient technologies

PostSat Sep 20, 2014 7:57 pm

how iron was made in pre-industrial times:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q23kEZA7sOM
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Tricia

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSun Sep 21, 2014 10:50 pm

Aoife il watch this tomoro im ready for my bed after travelling
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostFri Sep 26, 2014 7:14 pm

smelting copper - not too authentic as some of the tools used obviously are modern, nevertheless showing the principles how it could have been done back then:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uHc4Hirexc
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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Sep 27, 2014 9:35 am

Amazing to watch how it was all done by simple but effective techniques
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Sep 27, 2014 10:16 am

the ancient art of making wootz steel was totally lost - in fact the famous welded damascene steel was nothing more than a medieval attempt to imitate at least the looks of wootz, falling way behind its properties.

Meanwhile the principles of its production have been rediscovered and archaeological finds give us some ideas how exactly it was made back then, however I've never seen it being made the old way - the following videos show the ancient principles applied in modern surroundings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgW7cdvXBqw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnbWyAKd9Wc
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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Sep 27, 2014 5:40 pm

Thanx aoife very interesting indeed
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Sep 27, 2014 7:14 pm

how steel and wrought iron were welded before gas and electronic welding had been invented:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wL2M153HY
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Tricia

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Sep 27, 2014 11:52 pm

And cheaper
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSun Sep 28, 2014 12:18 am

considering the cost of coal, electronic welding would be cheaper methinks ;)

most of those techniques I've seen myself as my dad is a blacksmith - among other professions, so he run his forge as a sideline only and didn't invest in modern equipment ... I have just to remember what I've seen and find a youtube to share it with you ... if anyone finds other interesting ancient technologies please share them here, this thread ain't meant as a steel and metal thread only ;)
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Tricia

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSun Sep 28, 2014 12:42 pm

Oh didnt know your dad was a blacksmith aoife very interesting
If i come across any il post :D
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSun Oct 19, 2014 9:52 pm

Recently I watched a video showing how a modern glass artist works - so I got nosey how the ancient ones might have done it and found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycvXxysz4c

As I don't know much about this subject I can't say anything about the truth of the contents, but found it very interesting.
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostMon Oct 20, 2014 3:04 am

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Tricia

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Re: ancient technologies

PostMon Oct 20, 2014 10:08 pm

Amazing stuff aoife
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Nov 01, 2014 5:07 pm

Interesting article on the Lurgan Canoe, a bronze age boat from Galway:

http://irisharchaeology.ie/2014/10/the- ... om-galway/
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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Nov 01, 2014 6:33 pm

Thanx Aoife very interesting
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostFri Nov 28, 2014 9:34 pm

When using carbon steel for tool making you are faced with the decision whether to use high carbon steel that can be hardened properly and will keep an edge for a long time, but is quite brittle after hardening, or better use low carbon steel that can't be hardened and will get blunt very soon, but is more flexible so it doesn't break either.

Any compromise in carbon content will be a compromise in performance also, medium carbon steel will be better than high carbon steel re flexibility but worse re edge holding properties.

One way to work around this problem is to compose your tool from different steels, the high carbon steel used for the parts that will provide the cutting edge and low carbon steel to coat it and give it strength and flexibility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjlcqQVN6io
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Re: ancient technologies

PostMon Dec 01, 2014 12:01 am

Very interesting aoife im learning all the time
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Re: ancient technologies

PostMon Mar 09, 2015 2:02 pm

A Roman 'Swiss Army Knife'. Fashioned out of silver, this folding implement contains a three-pronged fork, a spoon, a spatula, a pick, a spike and a knife. It dates from c. 200-300 AD and now forms part of the Fitzwilliam Museum's collections in Cambridge, England.

11042959_889238651128223_4283202933027539095_n (1).jpg
11042959_889238651128223_4283202933027539095_n (1).jpg (25.25 KiB) Viewed 23677 times

(photo by the Fitzwilliam Museum)
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostMon Mar 09, 2015 2:24 pm

Fairlie » Mon Mar 09, 2015 2:02 pm wrote:A Roman 'Swiss Army Knife'.


Most interesting item Fairlie - wonder whether the top part near the spoon/fork hinge has some function too? Nowadays you could use it as a bottle opener ;)
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Re: ancient technologies

PostMon Mar 09, 2015 7:47 pm

That is some gadget fairlie and great you posted it up .. Amazing really as it goes way back
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostFri Jul 10, 2015 11:18 pm

not purely "ancient" technology in the sense of 'millennia old', nevertheless an interesting mix of metal and wood working techniques.

Even if this was filmed in the mid 20th century, no one in his right mind could call the product a "replica", it's no less an original than the ones made in the 18th century.

"Colonial Gunsmith" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lui6uNPcRPA
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Re: ancient technologies

PostSat Jul 11, 2015 12:50 pm

Amazing all the same you are right
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostTue Jul 14, 2015 11:06 pm

one of the most basic technologies is that of making fire ... without it neither metal working nor having a nice barbecue would be possible ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W7n92XKn1M
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Re: ancient technologies

PostThu Jul 16, 2015 5:09 pm

Perfect ..get the barbie on :D
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Aoife

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Re: ancient technologies

PostWed Feb 10, 2016 7:55 pm

Making a flint striker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfryaDMRWYs

Some more modern tools in his forge, however not used in the demonstration (except electric bellows)

And here some remarks on good style regarding flint strikers ;) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ-Sxl8cntU
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Re: ancient technologies

PostFri Feb 12, 2016 11:22 am

Great post aoife
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