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Casting In Mold Found At Garrett Site In Ohio?
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On Monday, June 30, 2003, the author, William D. Conner, found what looks like a casting (two views above) inside its broken mold at the Garrett Site west of Chillicothe, Ohio. I was making a shovel survey there in an attempt to locate the structure of a pit iron furnace. Since beginning investigation of the pit iron furnaces of South Central Ohio in 1990, this is the first indication I've found that molten iron might have been cast at one of the furnace sites. Previously, I and other investigators have found only evidence of the direct reduction smelting of local bog iron ore for the production of wrought iron. This piece weighs 4.25 pounds and what appears to be the casting deflects a compass needle only at its blunt end. An Ohio Ph.D. archaeo-metallurgist suggested this piece looks like a casting. One other expert does not agree. Other opinions are welcomed by the author of this web site.
Garrett Mold, htm; posted 7-14-03; revised 7-17-03