Join Dr. Andrew Welton for an after-hours talk on pattern-welded swords, early medieval metallurgy, and the relationship between swordsmiths and the warriors who carried their work into combat. Drawing on a decade of hands-on experimental archaeology, including smelting iron in medieval-style furnaces and forging recreated blades, Welton will explore why smiths used this difficult technique even when it offered no clear performance advantage. This talk is designed for anyone interested in the connections among metalworking, materials science, and the history of bladesmithing.