View source for Ferrier of Tannerre-en-Puisaye

{{italic title|noerror|string=Ferrier}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name                 =  Antique ''ferrier'' of Tannerre-en-Puisaye
| native_name          = [[:fr:Ferrier antique de Tannerre-en-Puisaye|Ferrier antique de Tannerre-en-Puisaye]]
| native_name_lang     = fr
| alternate_name =
| image                = Tannerrre-ferrier-entree par rte des Mussots.JPG
| image_size =
| caption              = Main entrance on route des Mussots
| alt                  = photo showing a path going straight ahead through a wood, with a car-wide portal across it made of wooden posts and from whose transversal pole hangs on chains a wooden sign that bears the inscription: "Le ferrier". On the right hand-side of the portal is a small tile-roofed shelter for a sign that indicated the various major parts of the ferrier. On the left hand-side of the portal is a gap to let walkers, horses and pushbike-riders through. On the left of this gap is a low barrier, also made of wooden poles, about 2 metre wide. Some 2 meters before the portal on the right hand-side of the path is another sign that stands parallel to the road; the photo does not show what that sign displays (it is a map of the orienteering tracks and gives basic indications about the sport as practiced on this site)
| map_type             = France
| map_alt              =
| map_caption          = Location of Antique ''ferrier'' of [[Tannerre-en-Puisaye|Tannerre]] in France
| map_size             =
| altitude_m           = 221
| relief               =
| coordinates          = {{coord|47.737386|3.138761|display=inline,title}}
| location             = [[Tannerre-en-Puisaye]], [[Yonne]], [[Burgundy]], France
| region               =
| type                 = Mine
| length               =
| width                =
| area                 = {{convert|30|ha|acre|abbr=unit}}
| epochs               = [[Iron Age]], [[Roman period]], [[Middle Ages]], [[Modern era]]
| cultures             = [[La Tène culture|La Tène]], [[Gallo-Roman culture|Gallo-Roman]], [[Merovingian]]
| dependency_of        = Auxerre
| occupants            = 
| event                = 
| discovered           = 
| excavations          = 
| archaeologists       = 
| condition            = 
| ownership            = Part council / Part private
| management           = 
| public_access        = 
| other_designation    =
| website              = 
| notes                =  
| designation1         = Monument historique
| designation1_offname = Ferrier antique - Archaeological site
| designation1_date    = 1982<ref name="mérimée"/>
| designation1_number  = {{Base Mérimée|PA00113898}}
| designation2         = 
| designation2_offname = 
| designation2_date    = 
| designation2_number  = 
}}

The '''ancient ''ferrier'' of Tannerre-en-Puisaye''', located in the village of [[Tannerre-en-Puisaye]] in [[Burgundy]], [[France]], is a historic site used for mining and working of iron. The works date from the [[Gauls|Gallic]] and [[Gallo-Roman]] times. It is one of two largest ''ferriers'' in France and one of the largest in Europe. Industrial exploitation of the site ceased when it was classed as [[monument historique|French Heritage monument]] in 1982.

== Etymology ==

The root of the word "''ferrier''" is "''fer''", which means iron. This word is quite unique to French : no other language has a word that specifically means "pile of iron [[slag]]" or "iron [[tailings]] heap": these terms, "slag" and "tailings", can apply to the extraction waste [[by-product]] of any metal and not just of iron.

== Location ==
The ''{{ill|Ferrier (ironworking)|lt=ferrier|fr|Ferrier}}'' of Tannerre is in the northern part of [[Burgundy]], in the [[Yonne]] [[departments of France|department]], in the commune of [[Tannerre-en-Puisaye]], in and around the ''bois de la Garenne'' (''Wood of La Garenne'') that stands just north of the village.

Two thirds of its total surface of {{convert|30|ha|acre|abbr=unit}} are in a wood of approximately {{convert|75|ha|acre|abbr=unit}} surface.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.geoportail.fr/ The ''ferrier'', interactive map] on [[Géoportail]] - [[Institut géographique national]].</ref> {{convert|15.2|ha|acre|abbr=unit}} of the southern part of the wood is owned by the town council, the rest of it being privately owned. The ''ferrier'' also spreads over inhabited areas and agricultural land.<ref name="assoHistoireSituation">{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/ferrier/description Histoire du ferrier – Situation], in ''leferrierdetannerre.net''. Maps of the ''ferriers'' listed in [[Puisaye]], of those in the commune of Tannerre, of the great ''ferrier'' in Tannerre, and other information.</ref>

The wood was likely much larger originally, as extracting iron from its ore required great quantities of charcoal.<ref name="TartoisMaitreForgeron">{{in lang|fr}} [http://echo.auxerre.free.fr/dossier_telechargement/Annuaire_historique/Extraits/1846_Annuaire_historique_fer_2.pdf Letter by M. Tartois, forge master]. Annuaire historique 1846. On the age of ''ferriers'' according to their size.</ref> Metal extraction also requires a lot of water to wash the ore,<ref name="assoFerrierMinerai">{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/ferrier/historique/periode-gauloise Ferrier - Le minerai (''the ore'')], on ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref> a need fulfilled with the Branlin river flowing at the foot of the hill. The ore also needed to be crushed, and that was done in appropriate mills.<ref name="DeyHistoireComteStFargeau310">{{in lang|fr}} M. Déy, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ggpBAAAAYAAJ Histoire de la Ville et du Comté de Saint-Fargeau]'', Auxerre, 1856, p. 310 : a slag-grinding mill.</ref> Lastly, extracting iron required air to activate the [[bloomeries]] and the site is at the top of a hill, well exposed to winds.

This is not the only ''ferrier'' in Tannerre-en-Puisaye, a village that holds a large part of the {{formatnum:2250}} ''ferriers'' listed in [[Puisaye]] in 2008.
Other large ''ferriers'' in Puisaye are in [[Aillant-sur-Tholon]], [[Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye]], [[Saint-Fargeau]], [[Fontaines, Yonne|Fontaines]], [[Dracy]], [[Mézilles]].<ref name="assoSidérurgieAntique"/>

== Description ==
[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-mining hole 3.JPG|thumb|left|{{center|Mining hole retaining water among slag mounds}}]]

Those remains of ancient and recent exploitation have remodelled the land to heaps and holes: many holes from mineral extraction and from the removal of slag, many mounds of all sizes from miscellaneous small heaps to {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=unit}} high mounds. The whole ''ferrier'' is spread over {{convert|30|ha|acre|abbr=unit}} surface. It is the largest ''ferrier'' in the [[Puisaye]] area, followed by those in [[Villiers-Saint-Benoît]], [[Dracy]], [[Toucy]] and several others,<ref name="Daubrée">{{in lang|fr}} A. Daubrée. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41756072?seq=9 ''Aperçu historique sur l'exploitation des métaux dans la Gaule''], p. 306.</ref> the largest of France with that of [[Les Martys]] ([[Aude (département)|Aude]] [[departement]]),<ref name="assoSidérurgieAntique">{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/ferrier/historique/periode-gauloise Sidérurgie antique], in ''leferrierdetannerre.net''. Photos and information on iron extractionduring Antiquity.</ref> and one of the largest in Europe.<ref name="assoInauguration2009">{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/l-association/historique/inauguration Inauguration du ferrier de Tannerre], on ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref>

Of this surface, {{convert|15.2|ha|acre|abbr=unit}} are owned by the council and are classed as [[monument historique]] since October 15, 1982.<ref name="mérimée">{{in lang|fr}} {{Base Mérimée|PA00113898}} - Ferrier antique.</ref>

[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-roman water well.JPG|thumb|{{center|Gallo-Roman well}}]]

Three Gallo-Roman wells have been found, each {{convert|1.20|m|ft|abbr=unit}} wide and providing {{convert|2|m3|cuft|abbr=unit}} per hour. One of them is {{convert|6|to|8|m|ft|abbr=unit}} deep, the two others {{convert|7|to|9|m|ft|abbr=unit}} deep (the latter have been filled for security purposes). Of the two deeper wells, one is near the Motte Champlay fort and the other towards the end of the old rail track.<ref name="assoActivites">{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/realisations Activités de l'association du ferrier de Tannerre].</ref>

== History ==

Ores most commonly used in Tannerre were red [[hematite]] (Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>)<ref group=note>''[[Hematite]]'' or ''haematite'' is the [[mineral]] form of [[iron(III) oxide]] (Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), one of several [[iron oxide]]s. Hematite also contains traces of [[titanium]] (Ti), [[aluminium]] (Al), [[manganese]] (Mn) and [[water]] (H<sub>2</sub>O).</ref> (local hematite bearing a 70% iron content) and [[limonite]] (<chem>FeO(OH).\mathit{n}H2O</chem>),<ref group=note>The formula given here for [[limonite]]  <chem>FeO(OH).\mathit{n}H2O</chem> is not entirely accurate as the ratio of oxide to hydroxide can vary quite widely.</ref> a [[hydroxide]] hematite (here with 60% iron content). [[Marcasite]], an [[iron sulfide]] (FeSFe<sub>2</sub>), was little used.<ref name="assoFerrierMinerai"/>

=== Antiquity and Middle Ages ===
Tannerre's ''ferrier'', and iron extraction in the area, was active from the [[Iron Age]] up to the Middle Ages, with most production taking place during the Roman occupation.<ref name="Daubrée"/><ref name="TartoisMaitreForgeron"/>

In the early times the ore was picked straight from ground surface, with no digging involved. Surface ore eventually became all used up, so mining holes were dug down to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=unit}} deep;<ref name="assoFerrierMinerai"/> many examples of that operation remain within and around the ''ferrier'', generally partly refilled and often retaining water. Later, deeper wells were dug as well as galleries with pit props.<ref name="assoSidérurgieAntique"/>

Iron was produced in [[bloomeries]] made of clay, using the technique of « [[Direct reduced iron|direct iron reduction]] », and [[wrought iron|forge-wrought]] on the spot. The people living there were [[Senones]]. This place is less than {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=unit}} ([[as the crow flies|on a beeline]]) from the Loire river and from the [[Bituriges Cubi|Bituriges]], to whom is attributed the discovery of [[tinning]] and who were held among the best regarding their metalwork in general and ironwork in particular.<ref name="Daubrée"/><ref>[[Pliny the Elder]], XXXIV, 162.</ref> The oldest bloomeries studied in France, some "trapped slag" furnaces (''fours à  scories piégées'') giving off only a low production, are in the area of [[Sens]] only 50 miles away to the north and may date from the 7th century BC. There are many of those in the south of [[Puisaye]], their quantity decreasing towards the north of that area. Towards the end of the [[La Tène culture|Tene]] era (from about 500 [[Common Era|BC]] to the Roman conquest in the 1st century BC), all the large exploitation sites of Puisaye seem to have increased their size and perfected their equipment.<ref name="assoSidérurgieAntique"/>

[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-Motte-Champlay 1.JPG|thumb|left|Location of the Motte-Champlay fort]]
[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-slag mound 2.JPG|thumb|Heap of [[slag]] revealing its layers]]

Already largely present in Celtic times, (the [[Iron Age Europe#Western Europe|Iron Age in western Europe]] started around 800 to 700 BC), the site's production tremendously increased with the Romans intent on grabbing resources in conquered territories. They ordered the construction of very large workshops, while private production did not significantly slow down. The means and techniques that they put to use produced what is called in French « scories à laitier » literally « milk slag »<ref group=note>« Scories à laitier » or « milk slak » is slag that contains little or no more iron. At that stage it takes on a sort of milky shine, hence the French name.</ref> of the same quality than those of modern [[blast furnace]]s. Production during the 300 years of Roman occupation is estimated at 80% of total production of the site, all periods included. This means that in 300 after JC, the ''ferrier'' already occupied more or less the same surface as now. A Gallo-Roman village was most probably built on the hill side.<ref name="assoSidérurgieAntique"/>

==== [[Early Middle Ages]] ====
After the Romans left, mining and smelting activity notably decreased in the area. During [[early Middle Ages]], small ''ferriers'' remained active around [[Saint-Fargeau]] as far as [[Lavau, Yonne|Lavau]] and to the north of [[Villiers-Saint-Benoit]]. However, the records mention 
forging activities much more often than iron production. This decrease continued until the near-extinction of this activity towards the end of the High Middle Ages,<ref name="assoSidérurgieAntique"/> leaving behind as the only visible remains these mounds of slag, the ''ferriers'', that in Tannerre reached {{convert|15|m|ft}} high for the lowest and are mainly found in the northern part of the ''ferrier''.<ref name="assoExploitation20eSiecle">{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/ferrier/historique/le-xxe-siecle Exploitation in the 20th century], in ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref>

[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-Motte-Champlay 2.JPG|thumb|{{center|Blocks of lime and mortar from the Motte-Champlay}}]]

==== [[Late Middle Ages]] ====
Towards the 10th century an area in the western part of the ''ferrier'' was levelled and a fort built there to guard the road to Paris. That fort is the ''Motte Champlay''.<ref name="assoInauguration2009"/> It was taken over in 1359 by the English captain [[Robert Knolles]], in the service of [[Charles II of Navarre]] during the latter's attempt to take over the French crown. The Motte Champlay fort was a good base for plundering travellers;<ref name="challe">{{in lang|fr}} Ambroise Challe, [http://echo.auxerre.free.fr/dossier_telechargement/Annuaire_historique/Extraits/1837_Annuaire_historique_malicorne.pdf '' Malicorne-en-Gâtinais, Hautefeuille-sous-Malicorne''], dans [http://echo.auxerre.free.fr/Pages_du_site/Monographies.htm ''Monographies des villes et villages de l'Yonne et de leurs monuments''], 1837.</ref> Knolles left there his lieutenant Dauquin of Halton to hold Motte Champlay.<ref name="224Lebeuf1743vol2">{{in lang|fr}} Jean Lebeuf, [https://books.google.com/books?id=wBhDAAAAcAAJ ''Mémoires concernant l’histoire ecclésiastique et civile d’Auxerre...''], vol. 2, Perriquet, Auxerre, 1743, 923 pages, p. 224.</ref> An accord was made between Knolles and the [[Constable of France]] [[Robert de Fiennes|Robert de Fienne]] following the [[Treaty of Brétigny]] in 1360: upon leaving the Puisaye area, Motte Champlay was razed to the ground by the Anglo-[[Kingdom of Navarre|navarre]] troops - as well as the village (that likely was not part of the agreement) and the fort in the lower part of the village. Tannerre nearly died for more than two centuries and never again found its intense activity of old.<ref name="assoInauguration2009"/> The Motte Champlay was not rebuilt. Some large mortared blocks of its walls and foundations were found in 2009 during a land survey.<ref name="assoActivites"/>

=== Modern era ===
[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-slag 3.JPG|thumb|Slag, bloc produced on-site]]

At all periods, slag was occasionally used for road repairs and strengthening the road surface; that was called "ferrer" or "iron-loading" roads and other areas driven over.<ref name="MinièresOthe">{{in lang|fr}} Patrice Beck, Philippe Braunstein, Michel Philippe and Alain Ploquin. [http://rae.revues.org/3723 ''Minières et ferriers du Moyen-Âge en forêt d’Othe (Aube, Yonne) : approches historiques et archéologiques''], in ''Revue Archéologique de l'Est'', tome 57, 2008, p. 333-365.</ref> But the quantity of material taken overall from the antique ''ferriers'' for that purpose remained low.

From 1900 to 1982 the ''ferriers''' mounds were used on industrial scale, systematising the use (a trend already started in the 19th century) of slag to "iron-load" the roads and for [[Track ballast|rail track ballast]].<ref name="assoExploitation20eSiecle"/>

Besides that, as the slag was still rich in metals, it was sent to [[Lorraine]]'s [[blast furnace]]s (among which those of Homécourt) to extract the remaining iron and [[manganese]].<ref name="assoLeFerrier">{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.leferrierdetannerre.net/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=259 Le ferrier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316015122/http://leferrierdetannerre.net/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=259 |date=2016-03-16 }}, in ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref> Indeed, [[Puisaye]] slag was more iron-rich than Lorraine ore, the latter's iron content then nearing only 30%. So Tannere's slag was used as bulk material to the usual charge: the load was said to be "enriched".

Moreover, the slag in Tannerre contains [[silica]], that for a [[blast furnace]] is the equivalent of [[Flux (metallurgy)|flux]] for a [[bloomery]]: it allows for the ore to melt at a lower temperature, which made the task easier for [[blast furnace]]s and cured their malfunctioning.<ref name="assoActivites"/> 
During those times a complete network of railway tracks covered the ''ferrier'' along with [[Railroad switch|switches]], [[Railway turntable|turntables]], [[derail]]ers, workshop and well. The workmen built lodgings on-site for themselves, with a [[mess]].

[[World War I]] stopped activity on the site; it began again in 1916 with the arrival of refugee workers, Belgians and Italians. At the end of the war, Serbian workers came to the ''ferrier''. At the end of [[World War II]] [[heavy equipment (construction)|heavy equipment]] such as [[excavator]]s and other large machines arrived. Using these considerably modified the ''ferrier'' in many ways, notably by greatly upsetting the order of [[stratigraphy|archaeological strata]] in many places and thus locally preventing near-any historical tracing.

This new exploitation stopped when the ''ferrier'' was classified as ''[[monument historique]]'' in 1982,<ref name="assoExploitation20eSiecle"/> leaving for the future researchers a vast land open for investigation; it has been so disturbed that [[Henri de Raincourt]], the minister present at the inauguration in September 2009, compares it to Verdun or the [[ligne Maginot]].<ref name="assoActivites"/>

== Promotion of the site ==
[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-path 1.JPG|thumb|{{center|A welcoming path among mounds of slag and trenches}}]]

After the land was abandoned for 20 years, the "''association du ferrier de Tannerre''", created in 2008, did a lot of work to make the site known to the public. Previously to the opening a tremendous amount of cleaning was necessary, as the site had been used for wild-dumping. There also needed to clear up heavily over-grown vegetation and to find the old paths again.<ref name="assoOuverture2009">{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.leferrierdetannerre.net/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=149 Opening of the ferrier de Tannerre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305164714/http://leferrierdetannerre.net/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=149 |date=2016-03-05 }}, in ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref> Opening day was on September 19 (Heritage Day) 2009.<ref name="assoInauguration2009"/> A thorough research allowed to identify the Motte Champlay fort, le railway tracks, sites of activity at the beginning of the 20th century and other interesting points.<ref name="assoActivites"/>

=== Orienteering grounds ===
[[File:Tannerre-en-Puisaye-FR-89-auberge-03.jpg|thumb|left|{{center|« Le Coup d'Frein » restaurant, official repository for [[orienteering#Controls and control description sheet|orienteering kit]]}}]]

La communauté de communes a misé on the creation of [[orienteering]] courses, this being facilitated by that the wood is not a hunting ground: it can therefore be open to the public all year round. The ''comité de l’Yonne de course d’orientation'' (comity in the Yonne departement for the [[French Orienteering Federation]]) gave its expert advice on tracing the tracks and installing 25 [[control point (orienteering)|control points]] and an information panel. The tracks can extend on nearby private land for one-off events, after obtaining permission from the owners.

The first two events in June 2011 and March 2012 were the final tests for the new courses before the National association for school sports (in French [[:fr:Union nationale du sport scolaire|''Union nationale du sport scolaire'' or ''UNSS'']]) Academy championship on April 17, 2012, with 177 runners who expressed unanimous appreciation for the new courses and have helped strengthen the reputation of the grounds' installations. 
Access to the grounds is open and free all year-round. [[Orienteering map]]s, [[control point (orienteering)#Control description sheet|control description sheets]], [[control point (orienteering)#Control card and punching|control cards]] and such are available at the restaurant « Le Coup d'Frein » in Tannerre, official repository.<ref name="assoParcoursOrientation">{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.leferrierdetannerre.net/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=271 Parcours permanent d'orientation (PPO) dans le Bois communal du Ferrier de la Garenne] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316022205/http://leferrierdetannerre.net/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=271 |date=2016-03-16 }}, in ''leferrierdetannerre.net'', with the help of the Yonne section of comité de l’Yonne de course d’orientation.</ref>

[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-Motte-Champlay 1.JPG|thumb|{{center|Site of Motte-Champlay with tables and benches}}]]

=== Welcoming visitors ===
Adding to this successful project and beyond maintaining the site, paths a.s.o., the ''ferrier'' association has created and installed equipments and information media : portals at site entrances with visitor information panels, panels on history or plants at significant points along the discovery paths... At the centre of the ''ferrier'', the site of one of the towers that made up the Motte Champlay fort was set up as a rest area with benches and tables.<ref name="assoActivites"/>

[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-forge 2.JPG|thumb|{{center|The new forge}}]]
[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-slag 2.JPG|thumb|left|{{center|Block of slag produced on-site}}]]
[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-railway 3.JPG|thumb|130px|{{center|{{formatnum:500}}mm [[Minimum-gauge railway|narrow gauge track]] rebuilt identical to the original tracks}}]]
[[File:Tannerrre-ferrier-railway 2.JPG|thumb|left|{{center|Original [[minecart]] shown with a [[draisine]] near a [[railroad switch]]}}]]

=== Historical highlights ===
; Reminders of Antiquity and Middle Ages

The ''ferrier'' association has also re-created some workstations showing the successive stages of ore extraction and processing during Antiquity and during the last two centuries. Various tools have been made identical to those in that remote period, including [[bloomeries]] made in the ancient fashion<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/realisations/experiences-siderurgiques Fabrication du bas-fourneau], on ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref> and their adapted double [[bellows]],<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/realisations/chemin-de-fer/114-le-double-soufflet-pour-bas-fourneau Making the double bellows for the bloomeries], on ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref> a medieval forge and its large bellows copied from a 19th-century model.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/realisations/chemin-de-fer/116-construction-de-la-forge Construction de la forge] et [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/realisations/chemin-de-fer/115-restauration-du-soufflet-de-forge de son soufflet], on ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref> The [[bloomery]] requires frequent rebuildings as its lifespan covers only a few firings. It brings temperatures up {{convert|800|to|900|C|F}}.<ref name="assoSidérurgieAntique"/>

; A glimpse on 19th-20th century period

To represent modern times, the team has re-installed and relaunched part of the railway tracks that were in use from 1912 to 1931.<ref name="assoExploitation20eSiecle"/> It asked for help from the association "Le Petit Train de Champignelles",<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://train-de-champignelles.net/ Site de l'association du petit train de Champignelles]</ref> which provided needed documentation and support. This educative railway track takes up part of the path of the old [[2 ft and 600 mm gauge railways|600 mm gauge]] railway track that linked the site to [[Villiers-Saint-Benoit]], and of some of its [[Track gauge|500 mm gauge]] track in the ''ferrier''. In 2009, {{convert|40|m|ft|abbr=unit}} of {{formatnum:500}} mm [[Minimum-gauge railway|narrow gauge]] rail tracks were laid and a [[railroad switch]] was installed. In 2012, the 20th century worksite was linked to the heart of the ''ferrier'' with  {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=unit}} of {{formatnum:500}} mm [[Minimum-gauge railway|narrow gauge]] tracks; that installation revealed part of a clay [[tuyere]]<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/realisations/experiences-siderurgiques Tuyère - explication], in ''leferrierdetannerre.net''.</ref> and the bottom of a pot, coming from the oldest layers of the ''ferrier''. The minecart used is an original (in 1931 minecarts were replaced by trucks). A slag-extraction workplace has also been recreated, showing a [[sieve]] rebuilt identical to an original model.

These efforts have brought to life a site that is representative of the ''ferrier'' exploitation during the 19th century, with discovery paths that link all the main history points.<ref name="assoActivites"/>

=== Tours ===
Guided tours and demonstrations of [[direct reduced iron|direct iron reduction]] in [[bloomeries]] are organised yearly, usually during the ''ferrier'' feast beginning of September and the Heritage Days later in the same month.

The association wrote a booklet on the history of the site,<ref name="yonnerepArticleLivre">{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.lyonne.fr/yonne/actualite/pays/puisaye/2013/07/20/le-ferrier-aura-bientot-son-livret-historique_1431138.html ''Le ferrier aura bientôt son livret historique''], article in ''[[L'Yonne républicaine]]'', 4 Feb. 2013 (the : [http://leferrierdetannerre.net/index.php/fr/realisations/publications booklet], also in French).</ref> available since end of 2013.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="" caption="Some views from the discovery paths">
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-trench among slag mounds.JPG|Trenches...
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-mining trench 1.JPG|... among slag mounds
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-slag mound 1.JPG|A truncated slag mound shows its layers
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-mining hole 1.JPG|Mining hole filled with water
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-railway 4.JPG|Minecart and draisine display, surrounded by truncated slag mounds showing their layers
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-dry toilets.JPG|[[Dry toilet]] near the center of the ''ferrier''
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-fourmis 1.JPG|{{convert|4|m2|sqft|abbr=unit}} [[wood ant]] nest along a path
File:Tannerrre-ferrier-fourmis 2.JPG|Another wood ant nest
</gallery>

== Notes and references ==
; Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
; References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== See also ==
{{commons category|Ferrier de la Garenne in Tannerre-en-Puisaye}}

=== Related articles ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Iron ore]]
* [[Extraction of iron]]
* [[Ferrous metallurgy]]
* [[Bloomery]]
* [[Blast furnace]]
* [[Smelting]]
* [[Direct reduced iron]]
* [[Reduction (chemistry)]]
* [[Sponge iron reaction]]
* [[Spoil tip]]
* [[excavation (archaeology)]]
* [[Hull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine]]
* [[Sherman Mine]]
* [[Glossary of rail transport terms]]
{{div col end}}
{{Iron and steel production}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferrier antique Tannerre-en-Puisaye}}
[[Category:Mines in France]]
[[Category:Former mines in France]]
[[Category:History of mining in France]]
[[Category:Geography of Yonne]]
[[Category:Surface mines in France]]
[[Category:Monuments historiques of Yonne]]
[[Category:Iron Age sites in France]]
[[Category:7th century BC]]