Puddled iron is a refined form of iron produced through a process known as puddling. It was a significant technological innovation during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, providing a method to transform crude pig iron into a more malleable and durable material suitable for various applications. The puddling process involves melting pig iron in a reverberatory furnace and stirring it with rods, which oxidizes impurities such as carbon and silicon, resulting in a more refined iron product.