RAUR project - Chemical data on slag samples related to ancient ironmaking activities in Estonia

The aim of the fundamental research project (RAUR) is to establish the conditions for the provenance analysis of iron. This is a highly significant question, as iron was the only metal produced locally in Estonia from prehistoric to medieval times.In 2023, it was demonstrated that it is possible to investigate the origin of iron in Estonia using slag analysis, but this study only covered some of the iron smelting sites in Estonia. To enable comprehensive research across the entire country, it is necessary to sample and analyze the remaining unexplored iron-smelting locations.Provenance analysis through chemical composition will allow us to associate finished objects with known iron-smelting sites throughout Estonia, providing answers to whether the iron used was local or imported. More broadly, scientists will have the opportunity to address entirely new research questions that significantly enhance our understanding of past craftsmanship, trade, and culture. This dataset has been umploaded to the CHIPS database to grant easy access to the data and allow convenient comparison with data regarding other areas of interest. More informations on the project can be found here: https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Projects/Display/1d12b003-ed46-469d-8e5c-289412be3f50