Structural Features of the Fragments from Cast Iron Cauldrons of the Medieval Golden Horde: Neutron Tomography Data

Abstract

The spatial arrangement of the internal pores inside several fragments of ancient cast iron cauldrons related to the medieval Golden Horde period was studied using the neutron tomography method. The high neutron penetration into a cast iron material provides sufficient data for detailed analysis of the three-dimensional imaging data. The size, elongation, and orientation distributions of the observed internal pores were obtained. As discussed, the imaging and quantitative analytical data are considered structural markers for the location of cast iron foundries, as well as a feature of the medieval casting process.

Keywords

• neutron tomography
• porosity
• cultural heritage
• cast iron materials
• medieval Golden Horde