Abstrakt
An archaeometallurgical study of iron objects from ancient Miletos, which exhibit various material characteristics, is presented here in order to unfold a fundamental discussion regarding the emergence, applications and role of the technology of hypereutectoid steel identified previously in the Apollo sanctuary in ancient Didyma. Studies conducted to date in the "Síderos" project has allowed a comprehensive examination of iron metallurgy in Archaic Ionia for the first time, including sites such as Didyma, Miletos, Klazomenai and Bayrakli/Smyrna (Izmir). The evaluation of iron objects from ancient Didyma, encompassing votive offerings and various implements, has yielded substantial information, including a significant subset of findings that comprises hypereutectoid carbon steel tools such as a knife, a chisel, an anvil, among others (Vercik, Güder, Yalçın, forthcoming).The second-largest group of materials examined as part of this project consists of items found in both the sanctuary and settlement complexes of Miletos, one of the most important trade centres of the ArchaicIonia. According to historical records, Miletos merchants did not only deal in organic products like olive oil and wool products, but also in metals.
As Didyma was an important worship site for the nearby city- state of Miletos, studying the ironwork and blacksmithing artefacts from Miletos provides valuable insights into the social and cultural contexts of hyper-eutectoid steel utilization. This study also provides a platform for reassessing data from a limited archaeometric examination of iron materials from ancient Ionia in general, and from Miletosin particular (Yalçın, 1993). Based on the preliminary "Síderos" project results, the hyper-eutectoid-tipped nail discovered by Yalçın (1993) was not an isolated instance. There have been additional tools found, including an iron bar and a chisel made of ultra-high carbon steel. Moreover, the selection of artefacts across various groups revealed evidence of steel use and carburization, supporting the claim that steel was intentionally produced during the Archaic period in Ionia by both smelting and carburizing.