3,000-Year-Old Discovery Reveals Surprising Clues to What May Have Accidentally Sparked the Dawn of the Iron Age

The Debrief ^ | September 29, 2025 | Tim McMillan

[GingisK]

Near where I once lived in Kentucky where three iron furnaces that also operated during the Civil War. They drained the iron into molds dug into the ground because the prevalent rock there was limestone. Limestone decomposes at the temperature of molten iron.

I thrive on that kind of history. If I get over to Virginia those parks will be "must see" locations.

I numbs my mind that they could deal with that much weight at those temperatures. Casting a Columbiad cannon must have been a hoot, not to mention fitting it to a carriage.

[central_va]

They transported the iron ingots to the railhead in these really strong looking wagons. From there the iron was sent to the Tredegar Iron Works located in Richmond.

[GingisK]

If you ever see a description of the manufacturing process at Tredegar, grab it, and post it!

[central_va]

You can take tours of the Tredegar Iron Works.
https://www.usa-civil-war.com/Tredegar/tredegar_vst.shtml

[central_va]

Elizabeth Furnace

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Furnace

[GingisK]

I live in Georgia. It sounds like a terrific road trip!

[central_va]

This time of year the Shenandoah Valley is really nice.