The last of Europe's traditional blacksmiths

(19 Sep 2021) LEAD IN:
Determined to keep the centuries-long tradition of their forefathers alive, three families in central Bosnia are forging iron in the pre-industrial manner by relying solely on the power of water and fire.

STORY-LINE:
The Bosnian village of Ocevija is believed to be one of the last places in Europe where iron is still melted and processed the same way as in the Middle Ages.
It's heated in a charcoal fire, then moved to an anvil to be pounded into the desired shape by a large trip hammer.
The last three forges remaining active in Ocevija are powered by the nearby fast-flowing Ocevice river.
This village of blacksmiths first mentioned in written sources in 1485.
The forges  owned and operated by the progeny of families that established them many centuries ago.
"This forge is believed to have been established by the Jozeljic family some 700 years ago," says 62-year-old blacksmith Mijo Jozeljic.
"We (the family) worked here during the Ottoman rule (over Bosnia, between mid-15th and early 20th century), they (Ottoman Turks) also needed good craftsmen and blacksmithing is a form of art. A real blacksmith must be an artist."
Jozeljic learned the craft from his father and has passed that knowledge down to his son.
''It is my turn now. It remains to be seen what the future will bring, but as long as we can earn a living working here, in this way, we don't plan to change anything," says Jozeljic's son, Drazen.
''Since the early days of this business (in Ocevija), only the power of water and fire have been used. We changed nothing," he adds.
Nowadays, the best-selling products of Ocevija's last remaining traditional blacksmiths include a deep, lidded cast iron dish, known locally as ''sac", used to slow-cook meat and vegetables under hot embers, as well as frying pans and baking tins.
In the past, just around 50 years ago, their most popular products were agricultural tools, horseshoes and shoes for oxen, but changes in demand reflect a shift from rural to urban lifestyles in the Balkan country.
While Bosnia's last remaining traditional blacksmiths are happy to adjust their range of products for modern times, they're determined to preserve the iron forging techniques their families have been practicing for centuries.
''There are many blacksmiths, some better than others, but the way in which we work, utilizing the power of water, not relying of electric power much, heating iron in charcoal fires, that you cannot find anywhere else," says traditional blacksmith Alojzije Vijackic.
This includes purchasing timber and hiring a charcoal-burner from another village to burn it for them.
In the past, Ocevija had its own charcoal-burners, but as ancient foundries began to close - their number dropping from seven in 1967 to just three today - they've not passed on their trade to anyone else in the village.
Once a year, usually at the end of August, Halid Zilic travels a hundred kilometres from his home village of Kacuni to Ocevija to burn wood and produce charcoal for the last few active foundries in Bosnia, and Europe.
Zilic typically spends almost a month in Ocevija during which time he digs out a large hole in the ground, builds a large heap of logs over it, and covers it with an airtight layer of grass, moss and earth before igniting a fire inside.
He then sits by the pile for days, making sure it doesn't go up in flames, but also keeping the fire inside going.
The pile usually burns for fifteen days, he says, slowly settling until the hole he dug out is filled with charcoal. He eventually extinguishes the flames and lets it cool down for a few days.

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