Indian steel: a forgotten commodity of the great trade routes

Abstract

Among numerous exotic goods carried along ancient trade routes the so-called Seric ironis one of the most mysterious and least known. According to ancient sources, it was imported froma half-mythical land of Serica. New discoveries in southern India suggest it should be identified withthe kingdom of Chera (in modern Tamilnadu) which existed between 300 BC and AD 300. Thismetal, one type of which was the patterned Damascene steel, was used mainly in the production ofhigh-quality weapons. From about the 3rd century AD local production centers of crucible steelemerged also outside India.

Keywords

• Indian steel
• crucible steel
• wootz
• Damascus steel
• Serica country
• Tamil metalurgy