Smelting tests without bellows in two pit-type bloomery furnaces of 40 cm diameter and 1.20 m height, one of which was provided with an auxillary pit. The furnace without auxillary pit showed poor gas penetration and low blast receptivity. However, the filling of the auxillary pit with charcoal and the ignition of it allowed the removal of the initial scaffolding of the other furnace. Temperatures were achieved at which the formation of blooms commenced. The high silica and low iron contents of the ore used proved to be unfavorable.