Archaeometric study of the iron objects from the Xuechi sacrificial site and its implication for bloomery iron smelting during early Western Han period in China

Author:

Liu Yaxiong1,Tian Yaqi2,Chen Kunlong3

Affiliation:

1. School of History and Culture Henan University Kaifeng China

2. Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology Xi'an China

3. Institute of Historical Metallurgy and Materials University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing China

Abstract

AbstractMetallographic examination and compositional study of slag inclusions on iron objects unearthed from Xuechi in Shaanxi, China, have revealed the smelting and manufacturing techniques employed at this Western Han dynasty sacrificial site. The results suggest two production systems among the samples: all knives, nails, and farming implements were made from cast iron that had been decarburised/malleablised through annealing or fining process. It is proposed that these samples were produced in designated state‐owned workshop. Two horse‐bit sets, on the other hand, were forged into shape using both bloomery iron and fined iron from various sources, with possible repairing and recycling involved in the manufacturing process. It is therefore argued that the horse bits found in the site came with the horse and had been produced separately from the other iron objects. Furthermore, this paper argues that although cast iron‐based production was the main method for large‐scale iron production, small‐scale bloomery iron smelting may have been practiced during the Western Han dynasty in certain regions as an alternate but economically viable method.

Publisher

Wiley

Reference34 articles.

1. Comparative studies on iron and steel artifacts unearthed from the tombs of Han princes 汉诸侯王陵墓出土铁器的比较;Chen J.;Science of Conservation and Archaeology 文物保护与考古科学,2000

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