Early Efforts to Smelt Iron in Central Anatolia: Analysis of Iron Artefacts from the Bronze Age in Kaman-Kalehöyük

A group of iron artefacts were excavated from the stratigraphic layers at Kaman-Kalehöyük in Central Anatolia, which were dated to the Middle and Early Bronze Ages. Some of them were re-analysed to discuss the state of iron production during such early periods, in terms of intentional carburization....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Metallography, microstructure, and analysis microstructure, and analysis, 2023, Vol.12 (2), p.289-305
Main Authors: Kucukarslan, N., Ota, T., Kobayashi, K., Nakamura, E., Omura, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bronze Age
Carburization (corrosion)
Characterization and Evaluation of Materials
Chemical composition
Chemistry and Materials Science
Materials Science
Metallic Materials
Nanotechnology
Optical microscopes
Peer-Reviewed Paper
Stratigraphy
Structural Materials
Surfaces and Interfaces
Thin Films
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Summary:A group of iron artefacts were excavated from the stratigraphic layers at Kaman-Kalehöyük in Central Anatolia, which were dated to the Middle and Early Bronze Ages. Some of them were re-analysed to discuss the state of iron production during such early periods, in terms of intentional carburization. The artefacts were re-examined via a minimally invasive approach by using optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy to determine their chemical composition and microstructure. It was observed that the artefacts are composed of iron and/or steel. However, it is difficult to assert that they were produced as steel intentionally, because of their varying C contents and the lack of correlation between C content and artefact type. Such a finding could highlight the range in early efforts to smelt iron, while ancient metal workers were trying to figure out how to control furnace conditions during the Bronze Age in Central Anatolia.
ISSN:2192-9262
2192-9270
DOI:10.1007/s13632-023-00935-5