Exploring ironmaking practice at Meroe, Sudan--images, data, and analytical scripts

This work constitutes the data and analytical scripts used to examine the inputs and products of a series of experimental iron smelts conducted in Meroe, Sudan. The purpose of the experiments was to investigate various aspects of ironmaking practice of Meroitic smelters operating between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD. Materials from the furnace workshop excavated beneath the slag mound MIS6 were also investigated for direct comparison. Optical and scanning electron micrographs are provided for individual specimens as well as raw compositional data obtained by SEM-EDS. In addition, R scripts are provided for the exploration of patterns in the chemical dataset.