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pattrick123

Wootz Steel: The Mysterious Metal

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Wootz steel was amongst the finest in the world. It is the metal that was used to fashion weapons such as the famous Damascus blades of the Middle Ages. However, Wootz steel dates back much further than the Medieval period. The technology originated in ancient India millennia before many other cultures ever found out about it.
This is a type of crucible steel, i.e. a type of steel produced by melting the raw materials in a crucible. Due to its high quality, Wootz steel was traded all over the ancient and Medieval world, including Europe, the Middle East, and China. The qualities of Wootz steel were well-suited to making weapons.

Here is one of the great Video and Article for details information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP8PCkcBZU4
http://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-technology/wootz-steel-damascus-blades-0010148

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I can't comment on Wootz steel. However, the best source of steel for the Roman Empire was Noricum, the Celtic Kingdom located in modern Austria and Slovenia.

Noricum.png.71df00bc81b8777dc38a76e1a1898e68.png

We have had a few interesting threads on Ancient Roman Steel:

http://www.ancientcoingallery.net/categories?Title=Noricum&Category=Celtic

https://books.google.com/books?id=OLQ2CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT240&lpg=PT240&dq=the+chalybs+Noricus&source=bl&ots=UdUn88t88T&sig=XZDKlwH53JE1tpoScYiQIWbnqAQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv_Mrl-uXbAhVNtlkKHQk5BaUQ6AEIWjAD#v=onepage&q=the chalybs Noricus&f=false

 

 

guy also known as gaius

Edited by guy

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Iron was traded everywhere but steel? No, that was a material created at the forge - Hence Noricum was the best source for the Roman Empire because that was where the skills to make it were focused.

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