Riksantikvarieämbetet

The production of iron in bloomery furnaces has long been recognised as one of the most significant forms of non-agrarian resource extraction during the Iron Age and a cornerstone of societal development in Sweden. This production enabled the creation of advanced agricultural tools, supported the construction of large boats, and became a vital commodity in Late Iron Age trade networks.This article presents the results of compiling a database of approximately 1,250 radiocarbon-dated (carbon-14) samples from facilities associated with ironproduction in Sweden. The samples have been calibrated and analysed using KDE analysis (Kernel Density Estimation) to generate a graphic representation of the temporal development of iron production. The results offer a more robust and statistically grounded model of early iron production in bloomery furnaces than previously available.The use of standardised statistical models enables the exploration of ironproduction as part of the broader exploitation of non-agrarian resources, revealing how various activities fluctuated and interacted over time. Both nationaland regional analyses provide insights into spatial differences and similarities across periods.The database will be made publicly accessible through Zenodo, facilitating further research and collaboration.