Exmoor Iron

Dr Gill Juleff

Since returning to Britain, Dr Gill Juleff has applied the field approach to archaeo-metallurgical research that she developed in Sri Lanka to the early iron-working record of Exmoor and its hinterland. Exmoor Iron, which Gill has lead from its beginning in 1996, is a collaborative project between Exmoor National Park Authority, the National Trust and now English Heritage and the University of Exeter.

Through field survey and excavation, the project is investigating pre-19th century exploitation of local iron ore resources. New radiocarbon dates for a number of sites being studied have revealed a record of iron-working that spans from the late Iron Age, through the Roman, post-Roman and Medieval periods, to the introduction of water-power in the late Medieval period.

Recent work has included excavation of Roman iron-working sites of Sherracombe Ford and Roman Lode, surveys at Horner Wood (managed woodland that once produced charcoal that fuelled the local iron industry) and geochemical and geophysical survey of a number of other sites.

Visit the BBC's feature on the project..