• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.240-251
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• 2019

This study examined the manufacturing technology used for the flat iron axes excavated from Ulsan Hadae. Their microstructures were analyzed using metallurgical methods. In addition, a variety of manufacturing technologies were examined and compared using existing research materials on flat iron axes. As a result of analyzing ten flat iron axes, which were excavated in the order that they were laid out in a row in one of the wooden coffin tombs at Ulsan Hadae, Tomb No. 44, it was possible to classify the flat iron axe manufacturing technology and system into three types: 'pure iron - shape processing', 'pure iron - shape processing - carburizing', and 'pure iron - shape processing - carburizing - decarburizing.' All of the flat iron axes were produced by forging, and most of them were made by beating the pure iron into their shapes. In particular, a number of the flat iron axes were reinforced through a carburizing process after shaping the iron. This appears as steel products forming the basis of the steel industry at the time were commonly used as an intermediary material or currency. On the other hand, it was commonly found in all samples that the hardening was not performed after shaping or carburizing. Since the microstructure of the flat iron axes made of pure iron contained a large number of impure inclusions and the result of analyzing the components of the non-metal inclusions showed characteristics of slag which contains a mixture of glass phase and wustite, it is possible that low-temperature reduction was used in the refining process.