History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c13.s2.t4.12

v1.c13.s2.t4.12

Some of the massive iron objects manufactured in India in the Christian era have no parallel in the world, such as the famous Iron Pillar at Delhi (4th century A.D.) weighing 6000 kg, Iron Pillar at Dhar (12th century A.D.), weighing 7000 kg, 29 iron beams at Konark in Orissa (9th century A.D.), of which the longest one measures 11000 mm in length and 175 by 197 mm in cross section weighing about 3000 kg, the iron trident at the temple of Achaleshwar on mount Abu, the iron pillar at Kondachari and the iron trident at the temple of Tanginath near Bishunpur in Bihar. Some of these are shown in *Fig. Nos. 14 to 18*. The massivity of these objects and their high corrosion resistance have kept the modern metallurgists and technologists wondering about the manufacturing and processing details as well as the cause of their such high corrosion resistance.