The Technology Study on Horse Armor Excavated from Tomb No.8 of the Ancient Tumuli in Marisan, Haman

Abstract

Haman Malisan Ancient Tumuli are a group of tombs belonging to the Aragaya kings that were intensively built in the late 5th to early 6th centuries. In particular, Tomb No. 8 is an important tomb for the study of restoration of Gaya’s heavy equipped cavalry, as horse armor, human armor and helmet were excavated as a set. This study sought to confirm through analysis the production and surface treatment techniques of horse armor excavated from Tomb No. 8 of the ancient tumuli in Marisan in Haman, which is believed to have been built in the late 5th century. Different metal structures are identified in horse armor depending on the part. Ferrite, a soft iron structure, is identified in the body armor and hip armor that protects the horse’s sides and hips, while pearlite is dominant in parts of the neck and chest armor that protect the neck and chest. It is believed that iron with a low carbon content was manufactured and molded into armor, and then separate carburization was performed on the neck and chest armor and the top of the chanfron, which were parts that required strength for defense. Traces of repairs and additional drilling positions are observed in some parts of the armor, and the difference in carbon content depending on the part of the horse armor suggests that the horse armor was used for actual warfare rather than for burial. Additionally, it is believed that the neck and chest were made of high-strength iron to protect the horse during war. It is presumed that the surface of the armor was surface treated using lacquer, as relatively high levels of C(carbon) were detected in the lacquer layer, which is believed to be the surface of the horse armor. The results of this study are based on metallurgical analysis of pieces of horse armor that have not been analyzed to date, and the production intention. Furthermore, it will be used as very important data to confirm which part of the horse was considered fatal during ancient warfare.