Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Women in Archaeology: Gill Juleff

Exeter archaeologists create exhibition for Sri Lanka Updated: 22-Jul-2008 09:19 by: Martin Williams An Exeter archaeologist, who became a comic book heroine in Sri Lanka after working there for 20 years, is returning to the country with her students to set up a museum exhibition. Dr Gill Juleff of the University of Exeter became well known in the 1990s for discovering the large-scale iron industry that existed in Sri Lanka in the first millennium AD. Now she is returning to the country, accompanied by five of her students, to create an exhibition for one of the country’s most important museums. On 23 July, Dr Juleff and her team will travel to the Martin Wickramasinghe Museum of Folk Culture in Koggala, on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Working with museum staff, they will have a month to produce a new exhibition on Sri Lanka’s ancient heritage in iron production. The exhibition will include a full-size model of a wind-powered furnace and accompanying display material. Dr Juleff’s research has focused on understanding the unique technology that was used to make steel in Sri Lanka in the first millennium AD. Working with archaeologists, both local and international, she discovered a type of furnace that made use of the monsoon winds to generate heat of up to 1600 degrees celcius. As well as being published in the leading scientific journal Nature, her discoveries captured the imagination of people across the island. When she returned to Sri Lanka last year she was surprised to find herself immortalised in an educational comic book: Steel Industry in Ancient Lanka. Dr Gill Juleff of the University’s School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources said: “After so many years of hard fieldwork in deep rural parts of the island, walking everyday in the forest and getting to know local villagers, it will be a treat to spend a month on the coast working in the relative comfort of a museum. It is also a wonderful opportunity to give back something to a country that I love and that has given me so much. We will be working with Sri Lankan colleagues who have collaborated with the project for many years and for us all it will be chance to bring the results of our work to a wider audience. If anyone is holidaying on the south coast of Sri Lanka near Galle they are welcome to visit the museum in Koggala and see the work in progress.” Last summer, Dr Juleff returned to Sri Lanka with a group of students to carry out a series of experiments on a model of a wind furnace. It was during this visit that she met Rupa Saparamadu, author of Steel Industry in Ancient Lanka and daughter of one of Sri Lanka’s most eminent writers, the late Martin Wickramasinghe. Now, working with the Martin Wickramasinghe Museum Trust, Dr Juleff and her team will create a new exhibition for the museum that Rupa Saparamadu runs.Five undergraduate archaeology students were selected for the projects based on their applications, in which they had to demonstrate their commitment to the project and outline the skills they could bring to it. First year student Kay Hamilton would not have been able to afford to take part in the project had it not been for the high level of subsidy, which came from the Exeter Alumni Exploration Fund. A keen amateur blacksmith, she will be using her skills to create the model furnace with her fellow students and local craftsmen. She said: “The iron industry is a topic of immense national pride among Sri Lankan people, so it’s a great honour to be asked to create this exhibition. I also feel a great sense of responsibility to get it right as it is such a prestigious project.” The Museum has asked the group to make an exhibit that will last for 10 years. Though they have done as much preparation as possible, the students do not yet know what materials and tools will be available to them. Their first task will be to find materials that will stand the test of time in hot and humid conditions. As well as presenting technical challenges, the trip will be an opportunity for the students to develop skills in interpreting and communicating academic information through the exhibition panels and display items. Second year student Matt Saunders, also a keen amateur blacksmith, said: “With archaeology you can get trapped in an ivory tower, but if you don’t try to help other people understand and celebrate their heritage there isn’t much point in making these discoveries.”

5 comments:

G. Kulatunga said...

I have been seeking some clarification fro Juleff and I have not been able to contact her.

Please send your email to post my comments

G.Kulartunga
Sri Lanka

G. Kulatunga said...

1. Gill Juleff’s report as appeared in ‘Letters to Nature’ Vol. 379 1996

The report states that ‘incomplete metal/slag separation was a shortcoming of the trails’. In describing the construction of the furnace it is stated that ‘…reused tuyeres at the base where molten slag collects’.
In the entire report, no mention is made regarding the use of fluxes which is very common in iron smelting to aid slag-removal by making slag and dross more fluid. Further, slag is lighter than metal so it will not collect at the bottom but tends to float to the top.

The trials have produced 17 kg of metal in low wind speeds of 22 km/h, whereas the mean wind speed is reported to be 31.5 km/h. The study has revealed the existence 139 sites in an area of 60 km2. From survey data and by extrapolating from quantitative sampling during excavation, the product output from known sites is conservatively estimated as 3500 tons (time taken is not given).

If the 139 sites identified produced 20 kg of metal each, all the sites working together would yield 2780 kg in one melt. To obtain 3500 tons, around 1259 melts need to be done. How long it took to produce 3500 tons is not stated and if production is limited to only during four months of the year (from June to September), this output seems very farfetched.

The pressure drop attained, by the construction of the furnace to induce a low pressure zone at the top, is predicted to be 50 Nm -2. It is stated that “Fluid mechanics calculations, based on wind velocities measured during trial 4 and using conservatively estimated parameters, predict a pressure drop of the order of 50 Nm-2.

This is a very low pressure of the order of 0.2 inch water gauge. Blowers used in cast iron melting in cupola deliver air at a pressure exceeding 12 inch water gauge. The actual pressure drop is not reported and it will be an important finding.

2. “Ancient Iron and Steel Production” at Samnalawewa Sabaragamuwa University
Journal 1998 Vol. 1

It is reported that the original position of the ancient furnace on the site was used in the new construction. Further exact size and shape of the furnace was reconstructed.

Wind direction measurements taken from the sites revealed that the immediate local topography had a considerable influence on the direction of incident winds at different locations.

The three trial conducted have yielded widely varying outputs for the same input of 100 kg of ore, namely 2.0, 8.7, and 17 kg. No explanation is given for the variation though it is claimed ‘this percentage yield is considered good’.

Is it possible that the wind regimes and topography have changed over time and new sizes and locations need to be found?

In describing the melting operation assisted by air-flow it is stated “…it is the indirect wind blowing over the top of the furnace that creates a strong venture (sic) which lowers pressure within the furnace and sucks air through tuyeres.” Later it is stated that “the wind blowing over the furnace creates a ‘bubble’ on top of the furnace that seals it, trapping inside the vital, hot reducing gases.”
This seems to be contradictory unless it happens at two different stages of melting.

Gamini Kulatunga said...

1. Gill Juleff’s report as appeared in ‘Letters to Nature’ Vol. 379 1996

The report states that ‘incomplete metal/slag separation was a shortcoming of the trails’. In describing the construction of the furnace it is stated that ‘…reused tuyeres at the base where molten slag collects’.
In the entire report, no mention is made regarding the use of fluxes which is very common in iron smelting to aid slag-removal by making slag and dross more fluid. Further, slag is lighter than metal so it will not collect at the bottom but tends to float to the top.

The trials have produced 17 kg of metal in low wind speeds of 22 km/h, whereas the mean wind speed is reported to be 31.5 km/h. The study has revealed the existence 139 sites in an area of 60 km2. From survey data and by extrapolating from quantitative sampling during excavation, the product output from known sites is conservatively estimated as 3500 tons (time taken is not given).

If the 139 sites identified produced 20 kg of metal each, all the sites working together would yield 2780 kg in one melt. To obtain 3500 tons, around 1259 melts need to be done. How long it took to produce 3500 tons is not stated and if production is limited to only during four months of the year (from June to September), this output seems very farfetched.

The pressure drop attained, by the construction of the furnace to induce a low pressure zone at the top, is predicted to be 50 Nm -2. It is stated that “Fluid mechanics calculations, based on wind velocities measured during trial 4 and using conservatively estimated parameters, predict a pressure drop of the order of 50 Nm-2.

This is a very low pressure of the order of 0.2 inch water gauge. Blowers used in cast iron melting in cupola deliver air at a pressure exceeding 12 inch water gauge. The actual pressure drop is not reported and it will be an important finding.

2. “Ancient Iron and Steel Production” at Samnalawewa Sabaragamuwa University
Journal 1998 Vol. 1

It is reported that the original position of the ancient furnace on the site was used in the new construction. Further exact size and shape of the furnace was reconstructed.

Wind direction measurements taken from the sites revealed that the immediate local topography had a considerable influence on the direction of incident winds at different locations.

The three trial conducted have yielded widely varying outputs for the same input of 100 kg of ore, namely 2.0, 8.7, and 17 kg. No explanation is given for the variation though it is claimed ‘this percentage yield is considered good’.

Is it possible that the wind regimes and topography have changed over time and new sizes and locations need to be found?

In describing the melting operation assisted by air-flow it is stated “…it is the indirect wind blowing over the top of the furnace that creates a strong venture (sic) which lowers pressure within the furnace and sucks air through tuyeres.” Later it is stated that “the wind blowing over the furnace creates a ‘bubble’ on top of the furnace that seals it, trapping inside the vital, hot reducing gases.”
This seems to be contradictory unless it happens at two different stages of melting.

Unknown said...

I read a blog asking readers to write to the Vice Chancellor of University of Exeter regarding Juleff. My comments posted at this site has been given a twist to imply a 'campaign' to discredit her.

I sent the following message to the Vice Chancellor:


“Interestingly, there are comments that blame Gill Juleff in farfetched output. They were posted on November 14, 2009 while the article was published in July 2008. Although the popularization of the web publications is a slow process, in this case the negative comments from Sri Lanka coincided with the University of Exeter’s actions. Can we suspect that the Internet was used purposefully for a campaign against Gill Juleff? It is very hard to make a conclusion as an outsider. "

The comments were written by me not with any malice but to get some technical clarifications. I have done my Doctoral research in the UK at Cranfield University and I am a chartered mechanical engineer. I have had long experience in cupola operation and at one stage we exported these castings made through MONO Pumps (UK) where I worked as the works manager.

At present, I am attached to the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the Open University of Sri Lanka, I have pleasant memories of Cranfield and British OU at Milton Keynes.

I am appalled that a genuine comment is considered a campaign against an academic. It is sad to realize that the typical American "conspiracy psychosis" has invaded the British academia.

Dr. G. Kulatunga
Senior Lecturer
The Open University of Sri Lanka
10th August 2010

Unknown said...

I recieved this message from Exerter University regarding my letter to the Vice Chancellor.

23rd August 2010
Dear Dr. G. Kulatunga,

Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Smith has sent me a copy of your e-mail and asked me to reply on his behalf.

I’m sorry that your genuine attempt to contribute to an academic debate appear to have been misconstrued in this unfortunate way. Whilst I am unable to go into any great detail it is fair to say that Dr Juleff’s work has polarised opinion within the archaeology community and this, combined with some uncertainty about Dr Juleff’s employment status at the University, contributed to some very public proclamations on a number of bulletin boards/discussion groups.

Happily Dr Juleff’s status as a permanent member of academic staff at the University of Exeter is now resolved but I am sure there will continue to be a healthy (and appropriate) debate about her work – as there is with much academic research.

Best wishes,

Stephen
Stephen Cooper
Director of Personnel & Staff Development
University of Exeter

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