Where's the Wootz?

urbanspaceman · Today, 01:28 PM

Wootz is wootz, regardless of where it comes from; I think that has now been firmly established thanks to modern blacksmiths replicating the formula and techniques.
Damascus means simply: 'Made in Damascus' and nothing more, but also allows for it to be wootz.
Coming back to my question: "Was wootz ever produced in the Middle East"?
Watching the video of Al and John after many years (thank-you again Interested Party from the Sierras) it is stated early on in the documentary (4:12) and I quote: "…However, the majority of wootz……came mostly from India. Bars of wootz were imported from India, probably traded in the markets of Damascus…"
This is the history I have always assumed was accurate after having watched that video years ago (six to be precise) then slowly becoming more and more perplexed as I absorbed all the subsequent takes on the issue, but now...
Al achieved his success using Jordanian dendrite ore from a mine seriously guarded by Saladin, and the site of many forges and crucible discoveries recently; which almost certainly means that wootz was being produced there.
Perhaps this was the only source of suitable ore in the wider area.
It would probably not have been accessible to German blacksmiths. I don't know enough history of the Christian Crusades to establish if this was the case.
Incidentally: my uncertainty regarding the inclusion of glass in the crucible is well founded, because, I realise, (better late than never) glass was probably not a readily disposable commodity 400 years bCe. Or was it?

Today, 01:28 PM	#15
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 543	and the answer is... Wootz is wootz, regardless of where it comes from; I think that has now been firmly established thanks to modern blacksmiths replicating the formula and techniques. Damascus means simply: 'Made in Damascus' and nothing more, but also allows for it to be wootz. Coming back to my question: "Was wootz ever produced in the Middle East"? Watching the video of Al and John after many years (thank-you again Interested Party from the Sierras) it is stated early on in the documentary (4:12) and I quote: "…However, the majority of wootz……came mostly from India. Bars of wootz were imported from India, probably traded in the markets of Damascus…" This is the history I have always assumed was accurate after having watched that video years ago (six to be precise) then slowly becoming more and more perplexed as I absorbed all the subsequent takes on the issue, but now... Al achieved his success using Jordanian dendrite ore from a mine seriously guarded by Saladin, and the site of many forges and crucible discoveries recently; which almost certainly means that wootz was being produced there. Perhaps this was the only source of suitable ore in the wider area. It would probably not have been accessible to German blacksmiths. I don't know enough history of the Christian Crusades to establish if this was the case. Incidentally: my uncertainty regarding the inclusion of glass in the crucible is well founded, because, I realise, (better late than never) glass was probably not a readily disposable commodity 400 years bCe. Or was it?