Overview Luristan Project	Part 1	Striations and heads
	Part 2	Pommel and hilt
	Part 4	Discussion of the results
	Large Pictures

The Luristan Project - Results from Cut Sword; Part 3

Area Definition

For ease of reference the followong picture shows the scan details for the succeeding pictures:


Areas investigated

Scan Through Animals and Hilt

First we look a the scan through the animals and the hilt (39 - 77). Nital etch pictures are given for the whole
ensemble and Oberhoffer etch pictures for the two animals


Large size picture

Once more the Oberhoffer etchesd parts show strong contrast variations compatible with the striations.
The Nital etch reveals very inhomogeneous structures in the animal parts, including Widmannstätten structures.
The Large size picture indicates that the white parts are cementite, calling for hypereutectoid steel. Moreover,
this indicates that the forging temperature was fairly high and cooling rather fast.
The hilt part contains less carbon and is comparatively homogeneous. The distance between the large elongated
slag inclusions is roughly constant which might be hinting at a piled structure. As noted before, the repeated heating
of the blade / hilt part necessary for forging such a large object would tend to even out structural differences. What
we see thus does not come as a big surprise.

Scan Through Upper Blade

Now let's look at the blade not far from the hilt (upper blade; 184 - 190):


Large size picture

We have a fairly homogeneous piece of ferrite with little carbon but the usual elongated slag inclusions.
If the big black "spider" in the middle is a real feature or some artrfact of etching is not clear at present.
There is no obvious evidence of welding but a closer look does suggest a piled or layered structure
produced by fire welding. This is oullined in the .large size picture

Scan Through Middle Blade

Here is the mid-section of the blade (middle blade; Nital 191 - 196; Oberhoffer 275 - 281):



Large size picture

Strong structural changes accross the blade are seen in the Nital etch; they are at least partially due to a changing carbon concentration.
Looking closely, evidence for the layered structure can be suspected as above.
The Oberhoffer etch produces once more strong contrast variations in possible agreement with the macroscopic striations.

Scan Through Lower Blade

The last scan runs through the lowest part of the blade (197 - 202)


Large version

The structure encountered is unlike anything else found so far. The scientifc term for a structure like this is: really weird.
I have some ideas of what I'm seeing here, but won't speculate at this point.

Part 1 Heads
Part 2 Pommel and hilt
Part 4 Discussion of the results
Large Pictures

With frame

Discussion of the "Cut Sword" Findings

Scythian Special Large Pictures

Widmanstätten Structures

Luristan Special

The Luristan Project - Results from Cut Swords

The Luristan Project - Results from Cut Swords Part 2

The Luristan Project - Large Pictures of Cut Sword