The Traditional Production of Tar and Grease: From the Tar Holes to the Double Mantle Furnaces

Jiří Woitsch

Archeologia technica, vol. 23 (2012)
Pages: 83–90
Language: Czech
Type of article: scientific article
DOI: n/a

Abstract:
The contribution presents basic methods of tar production (respectively, generally liquid products of a wood pyrolysis) used in Central Europe from the Middle Ages to the 20th century and production equipment related to it. Besides the archaic ways of gaining tar (holes, tar piles, home production in containers), the text pays particular attention to the development of the double mantle tar furnaces. The related refinement of products of the thermal decomposition of wood and manufacture of so called grease is mentioned too. The emphasis is placed both on the technological aspects of production, construction (structural) characteristics of used devices and possibilities of archeological research of relics of tar production and integration of the tar production to the wider group of production branches – so called forest crafts.