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A marvel of medieval Indian metallurgy Thanjavur's forge-welded iron cannon 中世纪印度冶金的奇迹:Thanjavur的锻焊铁炮
A marvel of medieval Indian metallurgy Thanjavur's forge-welded iron cannon 中世纪印度冶金的奇迹:Thanjavur的锻焊铁炮
A Marvel of
Medieval
Indian
Metallurgy:
Thanjavur’s
Forge-Welded
Iron Cannon
R. Balasubramaniam,
A. Saxena,
r.
on at Thanjavu Tanjore R. Anantharaman,
al forge-welded iron cann
Figure 1. The historic S. Reguer, and P. Dillmann
In this article, metallurgical aspects and use of numerous large iron objects, cannon was manufactured in Thanjavur
of a 17th century forge-welded iron including forge-welded cannons.1–4 Such during the regime of Raghunatha Nayak
cannon at Thanjavur are addressed, cannon, found at Nurwar, Mushirabad, (1600–1645 A.D.). Thanjavur was by
including an analysis of manufactur- Dacca (in Bangladesh), Bishnupur, Bija- this time a very important center of
ing methodology based on careful pur, Gulbarga, and Thanjavur, exemplify Hindu architecture (as exemplified
observation of its constructional details. the medieval Indian blacksmith’s skill in by the Brihadiswara Siva Temple),
Microstructural examination of iron the design, engineering, and construction literature (with thousands of palm leaf
from the cannon reveals that the iron of large forge-welded iron objects. The manuscripts preserved at the library
was extracted from ore by the direct wrought-iron cannons found in different of the Saraswati Mahal Museum at
process. Thus, the cannon was fabricated parts of India were manufactured from Thanjavur), and metallurgical skill
by forge welding and not by casting. individual iron rings that were forge- (as shown by the numerous bronze
Electrochemical polarization studies welded together. Medieval blacksmiths sculptures executed by the lost-wax
indicate that the corrosion rate of the continued to use this technique in the process). The Thanjavur cannon was
cannon iron can be compared to that of fabrication of small and large iron forged as a component of a defense
0.05% carbon mild steel under complete objects, such as the Delhi and Dhar iron barricade that protected the city, then
immersion conditions. However, the pillars.5,6 The forge-welded cannons already a few centuries old. The cannon,
atmospheric corrosion resistance of have not been properly catalogued in located at the eastern entrance of the
the cannon is far superior to that of the literature, unlike their European ancient city, is referred to as Rajagopala,
modern steel and can be attributed to counterparts.7–9 The massive cannon according to local traditions.
the formation of an adherent protective at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu will be There is no specific recorded history
passive film. It is concluded that this discussed in this article. of the cannon. However, a Thanjavur
cannon constitutes a marvel of medieval Based on its weight and size, the palace novel that describes Nayak’s rule
Indian metallurgical skill. cannon (Figure 1) at Thanjavur, earlier mentions the presence in the Thanjavur
known as Thanjai or Tanjore, must be fort of an object referred to as a
INTRODUCTION
regarded as one of the largest forge- “fire-breathing barrel shaped weapon.”
The high status of iron and steel welded iron cannons in the world. The cannon is believed to have been
technology in ancient and medieval According to a recent authoritative his- constructed in the Manojipatti area of
India is reflected in the manufacture tory of the ancient city of Thanjavur,10 the Thanjavur, famous for iron working.10
Over the last 40 years, there has been a discernible increase in the number of scholars who have focused their research on early industrial
organizations, a field of study that has come to be known as Archaeotechnology. Archaeologists have conducted fieldwork geared to the study
of ancient technologies in a cultural context and have drawn on the laboratory analyses developed by materials scientists as one portion of their
interpretive program. Papers for this department are solicited and/or reviewed by Michael Notis, a professor and director of the Archaeometallurgy
Laboratory (www.Lehigh.edu/~inarcmet) at Lehigh University.
a 200 µm b 200 µm c 10 µm
Figure 2. (a) and (b) Optical micrographs showing slag inclusions in ferrite matrix, and (c) a SEM micrograph showing the same features.