Saturday, June 25, 2022
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • CCPA
  • DMCA
News Two Daily News
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • US News
  • World
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • US News
  • World
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

1,000-Year-Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists

  • Sponsored results for 1,000 Year Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists

  •  
September 22, 2020
in Science
1,000-Year-Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists


Microscopic image showing a rounded steel fragment trapped in slag.

Microscopic image showing a rounded steel fragment trapped in slag.
Image: Rahil Alipour/UCL Archaeology

Chromium steel, commonly referred to as stainless steel, is thought to be a recent manufacturing innovation, but new evidence suggests ancient Persians stumbled upon an early version of this alloy some 1,000 years ago, in what is a surprise to archaeologists.

Ancient Persians were forging alloys made from chromium steel as early as the 11th century CE, according to new research published today in the Journal of Archaeological Science. This steel was likely used to produce swords, daggers, armor, and other items, but these metals also contained phosphorus, which made them fragile.

“This particular crucible steel made in Chahak contains around 1% to 2% chromium and 2% phosphorus,” Rahil Alipour, the lead author of the new study and an archaeologist at University College London, said in an email.

Archaeologists and historians were, up until this point, fairly certain that chromium steel (not to be confused with chrome—that’s something else) was a recent invention. And indeed, stainless steel as we know it today was developed in the 20th century and contains far more chromium than the steel produced by the ancient Persians. Alipour said the ancient Persian chromium steel “would not have been stainless.”

That said, the new paper “provides the earliest evidence for the consistent and intentional addition of a chromium mineral, most likely chromite, to the crucible steel charge—resulting in the intentional production of a low-chromium steel,” wrote the researchers in their study.

G/O Media may get a commission

A translation of medieval Persian manuscripts led the research team to Chahak, an archaeological site in southern Iran. Chahak used to be an important hub for the production of steel, and it is the only archaeological site in Iran with evidence of crucible steel-making, in which iron is added to long tubular crucibles, along with other minerals and organic matter, which is then sealed and warmed in a furnace. After cooling down, an ingot is removed by breaking the crucible. This technique was vitally important among many cultures, including the Vikings.

“Crucible steel in general is a very high-quality steel,” Alipour said. “It does not contain impurities and is very ideal for production of arms and armour and other tools.”

A key manuscript used in the study was written by the Persian polymath Abu-Rayhan Biruni, which dates back to the 10th or 11th century CE. Titled “al-Jamahir fi Marifah al-Jawahir” (translated to “A Compendium to Know the Gems”), the manuscript offered instructions for forging crucible steel, but it included a mystery compound called rusakhtaj (meaning “the burnt”), which the researchers interpreted and subsequently identified as being a chromite sand.

Crucible remnant containing an embedded chunk of slag.

Crucible remnant containing an embedded chunk of slag.
Image: Rahil Alipour/UCL Archaeology

Excavations at Chahak resulted in the discovery of residual charcoal in old crucible slag (waste matter that’s left over after the metal has been separated). Radiocarbon dating of this charcoal yielded a date range between the 10th and 12th…



Read More News: 1,000-Year-Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists

Tags: 1000YearOldAncient bladesancient persiaanthropologyArchaeologistschromium steelGizmodoIranmaterials sciencePrecursorScienceStainlessSteelSurprising

Related Posts

Space Junk Just Crashed Into the Far Side of the Moon at 5,800 MPH
Science

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Spots Mystery Rocket Impact Site on Moon

June 25, 2022
A tiny spacecraft could pave the way for a station between Earth and the moon
Science

A tiny spacecraft could pave the way for a station between Earth and the moon

June 24, 2022
World’s largest bacterium discovered is the size of a human eyelash
Science

World’s largest bacterium discovered is the size of a human eyelash

June 23, 2022
New Life: NASA’s InSight Mars Lander Gets a Few Extra Weeks of Science Operations
Science

New Life: NASA’s InSight Mars Lander Gets a Few Extra Weeks of Science Operations

June 23, 2022
This Electronic Tattoo Might Save Your Life
Science

This Electronic Tattoo Might Save Your Life

June 22, 2022
NASA prepares to power-down Voyager spacecraft after 44 years
Science

NASA prepares to power-down Voyager spacecraft after 44 years

June 21, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trend Today

Peru President, Martín Vizcarra, Survives Impeachment Vote

Peru President, Martín Vizcarra, Survives Impeachment Vote

September 19, 2020
Suspect killed in shootout with officers in Midvale, 3 others arrested

Suspect killed in shootout with officers in Midvale, 3 others arrested

September 19, 2020
Presentation Pac-12 presidents and chancellors saw before postponing sports featured

Presentation Pac-12 presidents and chancellors saw before postponing sports featured

September 18, 2020
US to declare UN sanctions reimposed on Iran despite disagreement from allies

US to declare UN sanctions reimposed on Iran despite disagreement from allies

September 17, 2020
Hurricane Sally unleashes

Hurricane Sally unleashes

September 16, 2020

EDITOR'S PICK

USMNT vs. El Salvador score, ratings, highlights: USA settles for draw in Concacaf

USMNT vs. El Salvador score, ratings, highlights: USA settles for draw in Concacaf

September 3, 2021
Scientists Track The Secret Sounds of Rocket Launches That Human Can’t Hear

Scientists Track The Secret Sounds of Rocket Launches That Human Can’t Hear

June 14, 2021
Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson to Become First Billionaire in Space

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson to Become First Billionaire in Space

July 2, 2021
Bitcoin price blasts past $27K — BTC market cap now over half a trillion dollars

Bitcoin price blasts past $27K — BTC market cap now over half a trillion dollars

December 27, 2020

Headlines

Reactions to U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade abortion landmark

Reactions to U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade abortion landmark

June 25, 2022
Live Updates: Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade

Live Updates: Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade

June 24, 2022
Stocks Close Higher After Fed Chairman Testifies

Stocks Close Higher After Fed Chairman Testifies

June 23, 2022
As Biden touts gas tax pause, even some of his own officials balk

As Biden touts gas tax pause, even some of his own officials balk

June 23, 2022

Sports

Bro! Austin Nola’s 1st hit off brother Aaron is a game-winner

Bro! Austin Nola’s 1st hit off brother Aaron is a game-winner

June 25, 2022
2022 NBA Draft trade tracker: Knicks send Kemba Walker to Pistons; 76ers acquire

2022 NBA Draft trade tracker: Knicks send Kemba Walker to Pistons; 76ers acquire

June 24, 2022
Cavaliers Acquire 49th Pick From Kings

Cavaliers Acquire 49th Pick From Kings

June 23, 2022
Westminster Dog Show 2022 Live Updates: It’s Time for Best in Show

Westminster Dog Show 2022 Live Updates: It’s Time for Best in Show

June 23, 2022

World

Oslo Pride canceled after deadly ‘terror’ shooting at gay bar in Norwegian capital

Oslo Pride canceled after deadly ‘terror’ shooting at gay bar in Norwegian capital

June 25, 2022
EU plans for life without Russian gas amid inflation spike

EU plans for life without Russian gas amid inflation spike

June 24, 2022
Live Updates: E.U. Leaders Give Ukraine Coveted Candidate Status

Live Updates: E.U. Leaders Give Ukraine Coveted Candidate Status

June 23, 2022
Ukraine may have endured its worst week since the fall of Mariupol

Ukraine may have endured its worst week since the fall of Mariupol

June 23, 2022
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • CCPA
  • DMCA

© 2020 Newstwo.net

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • US News
  • World
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Health

© 2020 Newstwo.net

Get more stuff like this
in your inbox

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.

Thank you for subscribing.

Something went wrong.

We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously