Forging Iron From The Sky

by Ian Thackray

In 2022, Dorset based blacksmith Ian Thackray put an end to 10 years of personal research by recreating a necklace first made 5200 years ago in ancient Egypt alongside fellow metalworker Will Sherman. Interlacing the beads of lapis lazuli, carnelian, gold and bone, the focal point of the necklace were nine beads of meteoric iron that that fell in Gebel Kamil that were forged using tools and methods that have been long forgotten, but often speculated about.

Since the beads were first discovered in 1911 in Gerzeh, tomb 67 by Flinders Petrie. there have been plenty of theories into not only the origin of the beads but also, how the beads were made and yet, it was not until the summer of 2022 at the Chalke Valley History Festival that they were recreated authentically using contemporary tools and materials from the Predynastic period.
This was based on archaeological evidence (courtesy of the Petrie Museum and the British Museum) as well as using relief carvings and imagery of metalworkers from throughout the Egyptian history.

The techniques used by Ian and his team are the result of time spent using and “getting a feel of” the tools from Predynastic Egypt. The equipment used was a granite anvil, dolomite hammer stones, and wooden tongs.

Exploring the research of Dr Diane Johnson, Professor Thilo Rehren and Timothy McCoy, Ian investigated the theoretical forging methods offered by these academics and compared them to the techniques that he, as a blacksmith, would employ in order to create these delicate beads as well as the information that the physical objects themselves offered to the trained eye.

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This event will be both in person at Burlington House and online. Please select the appropriate ticket below.

Attendance at Burlington House:

• Open to anyone to join, Fellows, Affiliates and General Public.
• Places in person will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The event will begin at 17.00 BST. Please arrive in plenty of time.
• Tea/Coffee is served from 16.30 BST.
• Registration is essential for non-Fellows but we encourage Fellows to register as well.
• Fellows must ensure they sign the guest book and sign their guests in.

The schedule for the evening if attending in person:

• Refreshments are served from 16.30 BST in the council room.
• The meeting begins at 17.00 BST with the lecture starting at approximately 17.10 BST.
• Lectures run for approximately 45min and are followed by a short Q&A.
• Sherry is served in the Foyer following the lecture.

Attendance by Live Stream:

• Open to anyone to join, Fellows, Affiliates and General Public.
• The event will be live-streamed to YouTube here
• The event will begin at 17.00 BST.
• You will receive an email reminder with the link to join the day before the lecture.

Please help the Society continue to deliver our FREE online Lecture Programme by making a donation to cover the cost of upgraded IT and software. We would really appreciate your support. Thank you! 

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]

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