The present study deliberates on the archaeometallurgical examination of 2300 years old excavated iron nail from India's middle Ganga plain of Balirajgarh. The nail was subjected to multianalytical investigations in order to determine the raw materials used, manufacturing technology and preservation state. The combined analytical techniques optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (SEM‐EDX), Vickers hardness and X‐ray diffractometry shed light towards the characterisation and use of the iron artefact. Special attention was paid for qualitative and quantitative analysis of slag inclusions, metal matrix and corrosion products. The presence of heterogeneous microstructure and inclusion of impurities suggests that nail has been produced through the direct process and work hardened. The noncorroded nail is made of hypereutectoid steel and used for building purpose. The study is important to understand the role of technology in the evolution of cultural changes in India that also provides archaeometric data on the method used in the forging work.

中文翻译：

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印度的炼钢——来自 Balirajgarh 恒河中部平原的显微和考古冶金分析的新证据

本研究探讨了印度中恒河平原巴里拉杰尔平原出土的2300年前铁钉的考古冶金学检验。为了确定所用的原材料、制造技术和保存状态，对指甲进行了多项分析调查。结合分析技术光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜-能量色散 X 射线光谱法 (SEM-EDX)、维氏硬度和 X 射线衍射法为铁制品的表征和使用提供了线索。特别注意对夹渣、金属基体和腐蚀产物的定性和定量分析。异质微观结构的存在和杂质的夹杂表明钉子是通过直接加工和加工硬化制成的。未腐蚀钉由过共析钢制成，用于建筑目的。该研究对于了解技术在印度文化变迁演变中的作用非常重要，它还提供了有关锻造工作中使用的方法的考古数据。