A new archaeological discovery has confirmed that wrought steel was used to carve rocks and make motifs much earlier than thought by artisans on the Iberian Peninsula. Previous information indicated that steel was first used in the Late Bronze Age.During the Late Bronze Age (1,200 to 800 BC) and the Early Iron Age (800 to 600 BC), what is known about Western Iberia is extremely limited. But now, thanks to the studies on the Iberian stelae, archaeologists have managed to illuminate the past a little more. Dr. An archaeological team led by Ralph Araque Gonzalez studied these stelae and tried to determine what kind of tools were used for the carvings found on them.
Steel was used much earlier than we thought
The structure of the pillars found in the Badajoz region of Spain was found to be extremely hard. Therefore, it was concluded that iron or bronze alone was not strong enough to make these carvings, and that the motifs were made using steel. “It shows that ferrous metallurgy, including the production and tempering of steel discovered at Rocha do Vigio, was likely local development of central small communities in Iberia and was not due to the influence of subsequent colonization processes,” said Araque Gonzalez.Steel began to be used 2900 years ago
The research shows a definite connection between EBA obelisk carving and ferrous metallurgy. Considering all the tools available at the time, the researchers determined that the Iberian stela could have been carved using only steel chisels.
An iron chisel found at Rocha do Vigio confirms that steel was present in the Early Bronze Age, 2,900 years ago. Steel production was thought to be impossible in the Early Bronze Age, and it certainly didn’t exist in the Early Bronze Age. Steel was only found in Europe in the BC. It is assumed to have come into use after its occupation by Roman forces between 200 AD and 14 AD.
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