Xiacun Iron Smelting Site

Xiacun Iron Smelting Site

The Xiacun Iron Smelting Site is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The Xiacun Iron Smelting Site is located in the southern part of Xiacun Natural Village, Taishanmiao Township.

Seven iron smelting furnaces remain at the site, six of which are semi-subterranean structures while No. 5 is a surface-level structure. The furnace walls are made of rock, and the furnace chambers come in both round and square shapes. A common feature of all seven furnaces is their large inner diameter and tall furnace chambers. Extremely clear charcoal traces can be seen in the solidified slag. No. 6 furnace has a “furnace body” structure. To the west of the furnace, rope-patterned bricks have been unearthed from a burial site, and numerous pottery shards, ceramic fragments, and bricks and tiles are scattered on the ground to the north, east, and west of the furnace, with white porcelain being the most common among the ceramics, followed by celadon. Artifacts include bowls, plates, saucers, and jars. Song Dynasty pottery and bricks have been excavated from the cliff face. In addition, iron ore is produced in the areas west of Zhushapugou beyond Longbogei Mountain and south of Zhizhutou Mountain in Xiongkoubu, southwest of the site, where ancient tunnel remains still exist. Judging from the architectural structure and material composition of the furnace chambers, they are similar to the Northern Song Dynasty furnaces in Cixian County, Hebei Province, and the Song Dynasty furnaces in Tieniugou, Lin County, but quite different from Han Dynasty furnaces such as those in Liyi, Xuzhou, Gurongzhen, Zhengzhou, Tieshenggou, Gongxian, and Wangchenggang, Lushan. Experts believe that the Xiacun Iron Smelting Site most likely dates back to the Song Dynasty.

Compared to a straight cylinder, the “furnace body angle” structure represents a significant improvement in iron smelting technology. It allows the temperature of the rising gases inside the furnace to gradually decrease and the volume to contract, so that the raw materials fed from the top are gradually heated as they descend. The inward slope of the furnace body accommodates this change, allowing the airflow to develop along the furnace walls, which helps raise the furnace temperature, improves the distribution of gases, saves fuel, and enhances efficiency. The development of the “furnace body angle” structure is of great significance to the study of metallurgical history. In 1980, the People’s Government of Nanzhao County designated it as a county-level cultural relic protection unit. In 2006, the People’s Government of Henan Province listed it as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Taishanmiao Township: A township under the jurisdiction of Nanzhao County. Established as Taishanmiao Commune in 1958, it was restructured as a township in 1984. Located in the southeastern part of the county, it is 23 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 105 square kilometers with a population of 37,000, it is traversed by the Jiaozuo–Zhicheng Railway and Provincial Highway Yu 02. It administers 18 village committees including Luogou, Xinglong, Hengshan, Baoping, Anzhuang, Caodian, Jiulishan, Taishanmiao, Zhushapu, Fengzhuang, Zhanggou, Yifeng, Luxin, Liucun, Lianggou, Luohan, Qianwan, and Xiadian, as well as one neighborhood committee, Maozhuang. The township’s enterprises are mainly engaged in commerce, construction, and building materials. The main agricultural products are wheat, corn, peanuts, ... More details about Taishanmiao Township++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province