05-26-2009, 02:42 PM
Hi,
what do we know about the early history of Damascus steel in Europe? According to U. Lindgren (ed.): Europäische Technik im Mittelalter. Berlin 1996, swords with several layers were produced by the Celts by the 4th century BC, and Roman smiths of the imperial era forged improved torsion Damascus steel blades. In the Merovingian age then, the art was highly developed.
I am not an expert in metallurgy, but does this account not fly into the face of the traditional interpretation that Damascus steel was first introduced in the Arab or Indian realm (wootz). Or are we talking about different techniques here?
See also here for many times folded Alemanni swords: <!-- l <a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15236&hilit=Japanese">viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15236&hilit=Japanese<!-- l
what do we know about the early history of Damascus steel in Europe? According to U. Lindgren (ed.): Europäische Technik im Mittelalter. Berlin 1996, swords with several layers were produced by the Celts by the 4th century BC, and Roman smiths of the imperial era forged improved torsion Damascus steel blades. In the Merovingian age then, the art was highly developed.
I am not an expert in metallurgy, but does this account not fly into the face of the traditional interpretation that Damascus steel was first introduced in the Arab or Indian realm (wootz). Or are we talking about different techniques here?
See also here for many times folded Alemanni swords: <!-- l <a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15236&hilit=Japanese">viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15236&hilit=Japanese<!-- l
Stefan (Literary references to the discussed topics are always appreciated.)