First answer the wrought/cast question.  Can you see any "grain" in  
the piece, or is it homogeneous?
Just on shape, it looks a lot like a thick strap hinge, wrought.  But  
Bob is definitely right, context is critical.  Whadda you know about  
this place?
PEM

On Sep 10, 2008, at 11:28 AM, Melissa Diamanti wrote:

I am looking for help in identifying an iron bar artifact from a late  
19th century village & foundry & mill site in Pennsylvania. Multiple  
examples of the same iron bar with a curved end have been found by  
the folks doing basic brush removal and clearing at the site.
   The photos are not great, since they were jsut taken in the field  
with car keys for scale. But I have posted two views of the iron bar  
(top and side) on Archaeoseek at
   http://archaeoseek.ning.com/xn/detail/578807:Photo:27542
   I hope I did this link correctly. If not, just check the new  
photos for two labeled iron bar.
   If you are not a member of Archaeoseek and do not wish to  
subscribe to this free service, I can also send them directly to  
anyone interested in helping me out. Thanks,

   Meli Diamanti
   Archaeological & Historical Consultants, Inc.


Patrick E. Martin
Professor of Archaeology
Department of Social Sciences
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI  49931
phone 906-487-2070,email [log in to unmask]
www.industrialarchaeology.net