Technological traditions inferred from iron artefacts of the Xiongnu Empire in Mongolia

Abstract

Iron objects excavated from sites of the Xiongnu Empire (3rd century BC-2nd century AD) in Mongolia have been examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the Xiongnu iron tradition may be characterized by the use of low carbon iron and carbon control by carburization. Cast iron was also used in the Xiongnu Empire, but only in very limited applications and with no convincing evidence of its use for the production of low carbon iron. The Xiongnu iron technology seems to have been established on the basis of the bloomery technique, without much influence from the Chinese style of technology, based on cast iron. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.