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Melting Indian crucible steel: experimental reconstruction of traditional production technologies

2020, 29, No. 1

Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures, Polish Academy of Sciences

Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures


Publication date

31.12.2020

Publishing model

open access

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Field

Humanities

Discipline

archeology

Language of publication

English

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Abstract

Despite the many discoveries made in recent decades at archaeological sites in India (Kodumannal, Gatihosahali, Konasamudram, etc.), Central Asia (Merv, Aksiket, Pap, etc.), and Iran (Chahak), as well as the excellent work of archaeometallurgists such as A. Williams, P.T. Cradock, B. Gilmour, A. Feuerbach, and T. Rehren, some aspects of the traditional technique of producing crucible steel remain in the realm of theory. The archaeological aspects of its production have been worked out, but in practice, applying all the assumptions based on archaeological findings, it has still not been possible to carry out effective melting of this remarkable material. In order to effectively combine the findings of archaeologists, metallurgists, archaeometallurgists and blacksmiths, and to fully reconstruct the simple principles that ancient metallurgists used to successfully carry out this extremely complicated production process, it is necessary to carry out a series of experiments in the field of experimental archaeology. Only these will make it possible to answer the question of how one of the most advanced materials in history was formed in a furnace of dried clay, fired with charcoal and powered with hand bellows, at temperatures that are theoretically too low for it.

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