Part 2 - Transport
Part 3 - Lumberjack Camp
Part 4 - Iron Ore Mining
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 5 - Making Charcoal
Note: This is a pictoral story MOC, each picture changing a little to help demonstrate how the process worked.
The first step in making charcoal is to find a clearing, or at least large open space.
Unskilled workers, usually young men such as farmer's sons, conducted the initial work, such as finding a site.
The land would need to be cleared of any obstacles.
The underbrush...
...and larger things such as trees, if they might be in the way.
After the site was ready, the collier (similar to a master blacksmith, but one specializing in charcoal instead of blacksmithing) arrived to oversee the process.
Next the frame, consisting of heavy logs, was put into place.
Dirt was filled in around the edges ...
... and then the wood was laid inside, with several spaces left open to let just a little air in.
More dirt was piled on top, leaving only one space on top open, and then hot coals from an already lighted fire were dropped in. This dirt sealed the wood from air, and so it smoldered instead of burned.
Several days later, the collier and assistants would probe, testing to see if the process had finished. If it had, dirt was poured on the final opening, cutting off the small amount of air still getting in, and putting out the fire. After a short time to cool, the dirt was shoveled off.
Underneath, instead of ashes, there was charcoal. The reason is that when wood is burned without oxygen, the chemical process is different. All of the impurities that exist with carbon inside wood are separated, and pure carbon is all that remains. The charcoal was then taken back to the villages, stored in cool dry places until needed.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more info about making charcoal:
http://www.engr.psu.edu/MTAH/essays/making_charcoal.htm
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2379/219 ... a603_o.jpg
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_the_ ... coal_maker
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry about the several Month delay in getting part 5 done, sadly college intervened again, and I don't have any room for LEGOs in a tiny dorm room. Yay for Thanksgiving break I say. Hopefully will have time to get part 6 done as well before I have to go back.
Kelderic
