Letter to the Cape Times

'Self-serving propagandist' should respect academic research
September 03, 2007 Edition 1

Not surprisingly, Cyril Hromnik missed the object of my article "How metals were worked long before the industrial revolution - discovering Africa's age-old iron smelting secrets" (July 6) in his letter "Cheap propaganda"(July 17).

My piece discussed the extractive processes involved in indigenous iron smelting and contrasted them with modern methods.

This was based on research combining archaeology, pyrometallurgy and material science.

Not believing in and not understanding science, Hromnik translated what I wrote into something which tickles his fancy.

He proceeded to use his invented fantasies to criticise my article and academia in general.

The main point which Hromnik missed is that the "technological secrets" I was referring to include the raw materials used, conditions of operation in the furnaces and the skills of the smelters in manipulating redox conditions, among others.

Because these processes were not documented, this information is obtained by analysing iron smelting remains, such as slag, using standard scientific techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry.

Surely, dismissing the results of such research as "transparently false, self-serving, academically fabricated and grossly exaggerated claims" shows Hromnik's misunderstanding of not only my article but science and academia as well.

Informed readers should judge for themselves but Hromnik has no right whatsoever to verbally abuse those who believe in science and academia.

I wrote about what others and I have researched, Hromnik should give readers his alternative and let them judge. He can't play and referee at the same time! Quite blatantly, Hromnik's piece was motivated by a strong desire to promote his own fantasies and speculations.

He failed to realise that mining and metallurgy, although related, are different activities.

This is why the mining for pigments started very early when compared to the smelting of metal ores. Another fault line in his vitriolic letter is evident from the statement "advanced metallurgical technology was introduced by Indians around the first century AD".

Contrary to this misguided claim redolent of African incapacity, metallurgy in South Africa was not introduced by Indians.

This explains why there are very big differences between African and Indian pre-industrial iron extractive processes - a point which Hromnik overlooks.

Hromnik has a right to believe in his own "self-serving propaganda" but he should let others believe in research and academia as well.

As part of celebrating African Origins, I am going to give a presentation at the MTN Science Centre this month on indigenous mining and metallurgy.

Dr Shadreck Chirikure

University of Cape Town