01-20-2012, 11:53 PM
Quote:Last October i met with archeologists in Vergina for a two-days workshop. An archeologist had brought photos taken with an electronic microscope from the sections of greeks swords of the 5th and 6th century. These swords were definately folded many times with the addition of carbon, but this is not pattern welded, and even if some patterns were scarcely visible, this was not intended. It was the result of trying to harden the material by alternating soft and harder layers, since they couldn't add carbon to their alloy. This is already important news in itself. It is wrong to claim pattern welding in greek swords however.Yup, that is exactly what one would suspect. It is the same way as most ("mono-") steel items were made in antiquity, from kitchen knives to frying pans.
Our reco of the Sisak blade has this feature, too:
[attachment=2642]fertig5.jpg[/attachment]
Also, as far as the sources go, these blades, even the pattern welded ones, were in antiquity not treated with acid to make the patterns more visible. This is probably a modern feature to "show off", although it would have been well within the capability of ancient craftsmen, of course (vinegar, e.g.)
Christian K.
No reconstruendum => No reconstruction.
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas.
No reconstruendum => No reconstruction.
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas.