iron ignot?

Jens Nordlunde · 18th July 2007, 05:34 PM

I may be wrong, but i think it was Jeff Pringle who pointed us in the direction of the mill balls.

ariel · 19th July 2007, 12:19 AM

As per Eftihis, this piece is not round at all: it is polygonal and looks as if it was purposefully made this way.
I see no reason for wootz ingots to be shaped like that and no explanation for a spontaneous formation of a complex geometrical feature. Some kind of weight measure?

sabertasche · 19th July 2007, 06:57 AM

I think weight measures are usually marked with whatever weight they are supposed to be. I suspect that unless you polish and etch it to see if there are cementite and pearlite particles you will never know.

Another fantasy theory my be that this really is a canon ball but for use against non Christians. Just a theory, of course.

greg

Tim Simmons · 19th July 2007, 07:48 AM

Grape shot or a lump of canister shot? It would not have to be well formed like a cannon ball?

kronckew · 19th July 2007, 07:59 AM

looks like it would work fine in an onager

Richard Furrer · 19th July 2007, 03:31 PM

Hello All,
Indeed it was Jeff who pointed the direction of the mill ball.
The few I have had chemically tesed which a friend had from India were high in chromium which places it outside the wootz realm.

Etching a window will show you if it is cast or not, but not much more.

I have a few more here which I have yet to test so I cannot comment on what ALL of them are.

Ric

Mark · 19th July 2007, 03:39 PM

Ric,

Are ingots (wootz or not) polygonal like this, at least sometimes? I recall seeing a couple facetted ones on Artzi's table at the Timonium show a few years back. Such a polygon would not, I think, work very well as a mill ball as it would have a reduced area of contact with the ore, and would not roll around as well. Whatever it is, I expect that the shape allows them to be packed more tightly, and/or stacked more stably.

19th July 2007, 12:19 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	As per Eftihis, this piece is not round at all: it is polygonal and looks as if it was purposefully made this way. I see no reason for wootz ingots to be shaped like that and no explanation for a spontaneous formation of a complex geometrical feature. Some kind of weight measure? Last edited by ariel; 19th July 2007 at 04:39 AM.

18th July 2007, 05:34 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I may be wrong, but i think it was Jeff Pringle who pointed us in the direction of the mill balls.

19th July 2007, 06:57 AM	#3
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	I think weight measures are usually marked with whatever weight they are supposed to be. I suspect that unless you polish and etch it to see if there are cementite and pearlite particles you will never know. Another fantasy theory my be that this really is a canon ball but for use against non Christians. Just a theory, of course. greg

19th July 2007, 07:48 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,935	Grape shot or a lump of canister shot? It would not have to be well formed like a cannon ball?

19th July 2007, 07:59 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,262	looks like it would work fine in an onager

19th July 2007, 03:31 PM	#6
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	Hello All, Indeed it was Jeff who pointed the direction of the mill ball. The few I have had chemically tesed which a friend had from India were high in chromium which places it outside the wootz realm. Etching a window will show you if it is cast or not, but not much more. I have a few more here which I have yet to test so I cannot comment on what ALL of them are. Ric

19th July 2007, 03:39 PM	#7
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Ric, Are ingots (wootz or not) polygonal like this, at least sometimes? I recall seeing a couple facetted ones on Artzi's table at the Timonium show a few years back. Such a polygon would not, I think, work very well as a mill ball as it would have a reduced area of contact with the ore, and would not roll around as well. Whatever it is, I expect that the shape allows them to be packed more tightly, and/or stacked more stably.