Metallurgical analysis of iron artefacts from Thailand
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Published
Feb 10, 2022
Abstract
Four iron artifacts excavated in Northeast Thailand have been subjected to metallographic examination. Three of the artifacts, dated to the Late Iron Age (eg 300-400 AD) exhibit competent forging and welding of wrought iron, with cutting edges hardened by cementation. The fourth artifact was undated but exhibits a difficult blacksmithing technique, involving welding an ultra-high carbon content steel onto a wrought iron core to form a high quality axe blade. Details of heat treatments are reconstructed and invoke
the suggestion that the undated axe-head may be contemporary with the other artifacts.
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Keywords
References
S Damrikun, 1980. The Pa Mong Archaeological Project: Preliminary report. Thai Fine Arts Department. Bankok. (in Thai).
S Rutnin, 1988. The prehistory of western Udon Thani and Loei Provinces, Northeast Thailand. Unpublished PhD thesis, Australian National University.
J Klein, J C Lerman, PE Damon and E J Ralph 1982. Calibration of radiocarbon dates, Radiocarbon, 24 (2): 103-150.
B Prakesh and V Tripathi: "Iron technology in Ancient India". Metals and Materials, 2 (9) (1986) 568-579.
O D Sherby and J Wadsworth: "Damascus Steels", Scientific American 253 (1985) 94-99.
R F Tylecote: "A History of Metallurgy", Metals Society, London, 1976.
P C Pigott and A R Marder: "Prehistoric iron in Southeast Asia: new evidence from Northeast Thailand", in: Southeast Asian Archaeology, Dunedin: University of Otago, 1984. D T Bayard (ed).
B Brosnon: "Notes of the history of iron in Thailand", J of the Siam Society, 73, (1985) 205-225.
S Rutnin, 1988. The prehistory of western Udon Thani and Loei Provinces, Northeast Thailand. Unpublished PhD thesis, Australian National University.
J Klein, J C Lerman, PE Damon and E J Ralph 1982. Calibration of radiocarbon dates, Radiocarbon, 24 (2): 103-150.
B Prakesh and V Tripathi: "Iron technology in Ancient India". Metals and Materials, 2 (9) (1986) 568-579.
O D Sherby and J Wadsworth: "Damascus Steels", Scientific American 253 (1985) 94-99.
R F Tylecote: "A History of Metallurgy", Metals Society, London, 1976.
P C Pigott and A R Marder: "Prehistoric iron in Southeast Asia: new evidence from Northeast Thailand", in: Southeast Asian Archaeology, Dunedin: University of Otago, 1984. D T Bayard (ed).
B Brosnon: "Notes of the history of iron in Thailand", J of the Siam Society, 73, (1985) 205-225.
How to Cite
Hogan, L., & Rutnin, S. (2022). Metallurgical analysis of iron artefacts from Thailand. Historical Metallurgy, 23(2), 99-107. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/602
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Articles
How to Cite
Hogan, L., & Rutnin, S. (2022). Metallurgical analysis of iron artefacts from Thailand. Historical Metallurgy, 23(2), 99-107. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/602