http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel#Histo...
I looked for SECONDS, I suspect you didn't look at all.
The earliest known production of steel is a piece of ironware excavated from an archaeological site in Anatolia (Kaman-Kalehoyuk) and is about 4,000 years old.[16] Other ancient steel comes from East Africa, dating back to 1400 BC.[17] In the 4th century BC steel weapons like the Falcata were produced in the Iberian Peninsula, while Noric steel was used by the Roman military.[18]. Main articles: Wootz steel and Damascus steel
Evidence of the earliest production of high carbon steel in the Indian Subcontinent was found in Samanalawewa area in Sri Lanka.[23] Wootz steel was produced in India by about 300 BC.[24] However, the steel was an old technology in India when King Porus presented a Steel sword to the Emperor Alexander in 326 BC. The steel technology obviously existed before 326 BC as steel was being exported to the Arab World at that time. Since the technology was acquired from the Tamilians from South India, the origin of steel technology in India can be conservatively estimated at 400-500 BC.
The earliest Industrial Revolution process was called 'puddling' but was a small-batch operation to produce iron, which is needed before steel can be made. It was developed to overcome the use of charcoal, by stirring the molten iron with iron rods which melted in the process.
A puddling furnace makes wrought iron or steel from a blast furnace.
Details on both of these processes you can get on line.
Google Damascus steel and search for archeology of damascus steel, google early iron smelting, google early iron smelting in Africa. These techniques go back further than 150 years.
The key was the discovery that coal or charcoal can reduce, chemically, iron from iron oxide. The early "alchemists" who produced Damascus steel about 1300 years ago made batches of only a few pounds of iron at a time.
Its for my design + tech project in for tomorrow, its a research project on steel, and we have to research how steel is manufactured now and 150 years ago. So, before the Bessemer process, how was steel made? I just need a basic explanation, not in great detail. I know how it's made now, but how was it made originally? Please help, I've found everything else but this, and I've looked for ages.. Thank youx
