Refining Iron from Rocks (Early Iron Age Extraction Using Primitive Methods)

The first step involved sourcing iron-rich rocks, typically hematite or magnetite ores, which were abundant in certain regions. These rocks were then broken down into smaller pieces using primitive tools such as hammers and chisels. The smaller rock fragments were placed into a simple furnace made of clay or other locally available materials. The furnace was fired using charcoal or other combustible materials to reach high temperatures, causing the iron within the rocks to melt and separate from impurities, forming a molten iron bloom. The resulting molten iron bloom was extracted, cooled, and further processed to shape it into usable tools, representing the basic principles of early iron extraction.