Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ix. (191 5), No. 1. 23 



independent origin in that locality cannot be reasonably 

 maintained, and I think we may hold, on the strongest 

 grounds of probability, that it was introduced from the 

 Elban region during some part of the Etruscan age, In 

 connection with this it is worthy of notice, that in the 

 Mediterranean of Europe, west of the Apennines, no other 

 type of iron furnace has ever been in use until modern 

 times. In other parts of Europe it was also employed to 

 a certain extent, but was not usually the most important 

 form." 35 



As regards the British iron mines, " The ancient slags 

 are of the same nature and composition as those produced 

 in the Roman period, and although they do not contain 

 Roman remains neither have they been found in direct 

 association with British objects " .... I am of the 

 opinion that the iron furnaces of Britain before Roman 

 times, and long afterwards, were simple low hearths, 

 resembling the Catalan furnace. The fuel was charcoal, 

 and the "bloom" of iron was taken out from the top of 

 the furnace . . . " 36 



" Respecting the source whence Britain first derived 

 its furnace and the method for the extraction of iron from 



its ore, I think we may reasonably conclude 



that it was the Mediterranean region of Europe, either the 

 Eastern Pyrenees or north-west Italy." 37 



Speaking of the smelting of iron in general he says 

 " The actual process for the extraction of iron from its 

 ores in Europe, in fact, in all countries in early times was 

 practically the same." 38 



I do not propose to enter here into a discussion of 

 the smelting of iron. One important fact must be con- 



3 5 Ibid. 3 1 2 et seq. 



3G Ibid. 314. 



37 Ibid. 314. 



3S Ibid. 310. 



