Metallurgy in the Medieval Braničevo

During the archeological researches of the medieval Braničevo at the site Mali Grad-Todica crkva in the Kostolac village, a significant amount of iron slag was discovered. The archeological context is indicative but so far, it does not provide the precise defining the spatial function with archeological and metallurgy findings. For that purpose, the physical and chemical analyses of the archeometal samples were carried out. The results of the investigation show the primary metallurgical activity in Braničevo in the second half of the XI and XII century, while the presence of wüstite (FeO), fayalite and magnetite in most of samples indicates the iron melting. Evidences of the primary iron metallurgy show the economic significance of Braničevo in a new light and the structural analyzes of slag are important for defining the casting process and degree of the iron metallurgy development during the Byzantine government in Braničevo.