Celtic Steel
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:32 pm
While researching a little about the Ringgriffmesser described by Gobae, I found the following which might be of interest to smiths, and decided to post it here for lack of anyplace else to stick it.
Steel Materials in Celtic and Roman Periods – Part 2
Journal BHM Berg- und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte
Publisher Springer Wien
ISSN 0005-8912 (Print) 1613-7531 (Online)
Issue Volume 152, Number 7 / July, 2007
Summary
Celtic steel was a commodity much sought-after in the Roman Empire due to its outstanding quality. 34 Celtic steel artefacts from the archaeological sites of Gründberg/Linz and Magdalensberg/Carinthia, dating from Roman times (100 B. C. – 100 A. D.), have been subjected to microanalysis. As shown by the analysis of specimens based on steel samples from the province of Noricum, the single pieces consisted of numerous components of different steel grades. The result is a banded structure of the artefacts, which can be attributed to the forging technique usual in the Celtic era. First, several crude steel blanks were hammered into a bar. The workpiece was then got from these steel bars by fire-forging. Depending on the hardness and toughness required, unalloyed or alloyed steel grades were used. In the course of forging, hard elements were embedded in a matrix of softer metal (multilayer material). To achieve the desired hardness of the steel bars, one method was to add phosphorus or carbon. Alternatively, annealing in a charcoal bed at 1000 °C followed by rapid cooling was in use during Roman times. The results of the metallurgical assessment prove that the designation "quality product" for "Norican steel" is fully warranted.
Steel Materials in Celtic and Roman Periods – Part 2
Journal BHM Berg- und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte
Publisher Springer Wien
ISSN 0005-8912 (Print) 1613-7531 (Online)
Issue Volume 152, Number 7 / July, 2007
Summary
Celtic steel was a commodity much sought-after in the Roman Empire due to its outstanding quality. 34 Celtic steel artefacts from the archaeological sites of Gründberg/Linz and Magdalensberg/Carinthia, dating from Roman times (100 B. C. – 100 A. D.), have been subjected to microanalysis. As shown by the analysis of specimens based on steel samples from the province of Noricum, the single pieces consisted of numerous components of different steel grades. The result is a banded structure of the artefacts, which can be attributed to the forging technique usual in the Celtic era. First, several crude steel blanks were hammered into a bar. The workpiece was then got from these steel bars by fire-forging. Depending on the hardness and toughness required, unalloyed or alloyed steel grades were used. In the course of forging, hard elements were embedded in a matrix of softer metal (multilayer material). To achieve the desired hardness of the steel bars, one method was to add phosphorus or carbon. Alternatively, annealing in a charcoal bed at 1000 °C followed by rapid cooling was in use during Roman times. The results of the metallurgical assessment prove that the designation "quality product" for "Norican steel" is fully warranted.