Tim wrote:
>I agree with Chris! Also Daniel- I've noticed several examples of metal or
>brick covers overtop of wooden floor boards to protect them.  What in your
>excavation provides you with such clues?

I checked into a few of the local working shops and found brick around the
fires, and also trade and farm journals mentioned the need to insulate
against fire.  I have not excavated such a feature, but I bet someone has.

Should I ever put a shop together, I will assure you it will have a brick
skirt, and whatever else I can neatly devise to stop the shower of sparks
flying from the hammer and catching the floor, benches, walls, roof, etc.
on fire.

My experience is that very few of the modern shops that do traditional
blacksmithing are actually like what I have seen reported archaeologically
or in museums.  Modern shops tend to be overly large-featured, it seems,
while historic (rural) shops seem quite spartan in their layout and facility.

         Dan W.