Lapphyttan facts for kids

Lapphyttan is a very old iron-making site in Norberg Municipality, Sweden. It's considered a special place because it shows us how people made iron a long time ago, especially using an early type of Blast Furnace. This site was probably active between the years 1150 and 1350. Today, Lapphyttan is part of the Ecomuseum Bergslagen, which helps preserve and teach about the history of this important industrial area.

What Was Lapphyttan?

Lapphyttan was a place where people made iron during the Medieval period. It's known as a "type site" for early blast furnaces. This means it's one of the best and earliest examples of this kind of iron-making technology ever found.

The Blast Furnace at Lapphyttan

A blast furnace is like a very tall, hot oven. At Lapphyttan, they used these furnaces to melt iron ore, which is rock that contains iron. They would add charcoal (a type of fuel) and limestone to the furnace. The intense heat would melt the iron out of the ore.

Making Cast Iron

The first type of iron produced at Lapphyttan was called cast iron. This iron was very strong when it cooled, but it was also quite brittle, meaning it could break easily if hit hard. It was good for making things that didn't need to bend or be shaped much after cooling.

From Cast Iron to Wrought Iron

After making cast iron, the workers at Lapphyttan would "fine" it. This process changed the cast iron into a different kind of iron called wrought iron. Wrought iron is much tougher and more flexible than cast iron. It could be hammered and shaped into tools, weapons, and other useful items. The wrought iron was often shaped into bun-like pieces called "blooms."

Iron for Trade: Osmonds

The iron blooms made at Lapphyttan were then cut into smaller pieces. These pieces were likely what were known as "osmonds." Osmonds were a common form of iron traded across Europe during the Middle Ages. Records from England in the 1250s mention osmonds in customs documents. There's even a hint of them in a trade agreement with Novgorod from as early as 1203. This shows how important Lapphyttan's iron production was for trade.

Other Early Blast Furnaces

Lapphyttan wasn't the only place with these early blast furnaces. Similar types of furnaces have been found in other parts of Europe. For example, they've been identified in the Mark region of Westphalia and north of the Swabian Jura, both in Germany. These discoveries help historians understand how iron-making technology spread and developed across different regions.