Abstract
Xi’an City was the capital of China during the Western Han (202 BC–8 AD) and Xinmang (8–23 AD) periods. Metallographic studies of iron swords from this region are very rare. This study analyzed six iron swords from different tombs in Xi’an by metallographic examination, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectrometry. These results indicate that one sample was produced using a direct smelting process, while the other samples were made from Chaogang (炒钢) decarburization of indirect process. Two swords were identified as very early Bailiangang (百炼钢) objects, which were highly valued at that time. This study supplements current analytical data on the center of the Han Empire.
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