Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c27.s1.t5.2

v1.c27.s1.t5.2

The Periplus of the second century AD records export of Indian iron and steel. During the Gupta era, there were several methods to quench-harden and produce steel sword. The Indian export item ‘steel’ or high carbon iron could have been produced by ‘lamination technique’, (which we have discussed in chapter 12), or the crucible method. The thirteenth century text Rasaratnasamuccaya refers to several kinds of crucible, including closed crucibles, to be used at high temperatures and reducing environments. Al-Idrisi’s writing (12th century AD) (quoted earlier) clearly shows that ‘Indian workshops fused iron with ingredients’ (presumably in crucibles) and from this ‘forged the most famous sabres’.