A Norse Re-enactor at L’Anse aux Meadows forges metal as he hammers down on heated iron.
The Norse had been smelting iron from European bogs for about 1400 years before they came to Newfoundland and found bog iron at L'Anse aux Meadows. These nails enabled the Norse to sail their ships to faraway shores. The Norse also used wooden trenails which held up better in wetter conditions.