How did Empus obtain steel?

rasdan · 27th November 2015, 10:56 AM

Not about keris, but while we are in this topic, I think I'll include this discovery as well.

Iron smelting site in Peninsular Malaysia dating 3 - 5th CE. Artifacts that had been found include 1.7 tonne of iron slag, 800+kg of iron tuyere and 150kg iron ore.

Research paper entitled "THE ANCIENT IRON SMELTING IN SG. BATU, BUJANG VALLEY, KEDAH"

http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ant/Postgradu...kmaMOKHTAR.pdf

The following is a documentary about Sungai Batu. It is in Malay, but it have a reasonable English subtitle.

Very interesting as this civilization is actually older than Angkor Wat where some sites may go back as old as 500BC. 2500 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oAbe-mKxSE

Pusaka · 14th December 2015, 11:03 PM

Traditionally there are said to be 16 types of besi available to empu and they would make a keris by blending three or more of these besi, thats what I was told anyway. Some of those besi came from Cambodia (Kamboja besi).

1 Karang kijang = like the sound of buzzing bees
2 Puraseni = Gurrr
3 Mangkang Laki Laki = Drung
4 Mangkang Perempuan = Like rubbing salt together
5 Walulin = Gung
6 Ktub = Kun
7 Kamboja = Hub
8 Ambal = Da
9 Windudi = Kha
10 Tumpang = Aba
11 Werani = Um
12 Welangi = Om
13 Tarte = Jan
14 Melelo = Za
15 Kenur = Mak
16 Palitung = Va

27th November 2015, 10:56 AM	#1
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 368	Not about keris, but while we are in this topic, I think I'll include this discovery as well. Iron smelting site in Peninsular Malaysia dating 3 - 5th CE. Artifacts that had been found include 1.7 tonne of iron slag, 800+kg of iron tuyere and 150kg iron ore. Research paper entitled "THE ANCIENT IRON SMELTING IN SG. BATU, BUJANG VALLEY, KEDAH" http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ant/Postgradu...kmaMOKHTAR.pdf The following is a documentary about Sungai Batu. It is in Malay, but it have a reasonable English subtitle. Very interesting as this civilization is actually older than Angkor Wat where some sites may go back as old as 500BC. 2500 years old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oAbe-mKxSE Last edited by rasdan; 27th November 2015 at 11:42 AM.

14th December 2015, 11:03 PM	#2
Pusaka Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 341	Traditionally there are said to be 16 types of besi available to empu and they would make a keris by blending three or more of these besi, thats what I was told anyway. Some of those besi came from Cambodia (Kamboja besi). 1 Karang kijang = like the sound of buzzing bees 2 Puraseni = Gurrr 3 Mangkang Laki Laki = Drung 4 Mangkang Perempuan = Like rubbing salt together 5 Walulin = Gung 6 Ktub = Kun 7 Kamboja = Hub 8 Ambal = Da 9 Windudi = Kha 10 Tumpang = Aba 11 Werani = Um 12 Welangi = Om 13 Tarte = Jan 14 Melelo = Za 15 Kenur = Mak 16 Palitung = Va