Export of iron from SE Asia

Mark · 9th February 2005, 07:55 PM

I only know about continental Southeast Asia. Small amounts of locally mined iron were used in times past, and some imported from China. But after the establishment of Europeans in the area, particularly the British in Burma in the mid-late 19th century, iron and steel were imported from Europe. No export to speak of. Tin, silver and gold were (and are) the major metal exports of the region.

Rick · 9th February 2005, 08:12 PM

Here's a tidbit .
http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/South...tem.asp?id=934

Jens Nordlunde · 9th February 2005, 09:34 PM

Thank you for your mails - this is rather interesting. There have seem to no export of iron from the islands from where the kerise's were made, only from Sri Lanka and India.

Regards

Jens

Jim McDougall · 9th February 2005, 11:10 PM

Hi Jens,
I think this is an outstanding question, and I cannot recall any references that would suggest export of such raw materials from these regions. As you have noted, the smelted ingots of metal from Sri Lanka and India are well known in history as sources to major sword blade centers. It seems even in ancient times the metal resources for sword blades came from these regions. I will have to search the reference, but I believe I once saw reference to 'Chinese' steel...but I would think that may refer to the Sri Lankan product which may have been transported via trade routes referred to generally as 'China'. In what is now Viet Nam, the region of Cochin was often referred to as 'Cochin China' in the 19th century, possibly earlier ( Dha guys help me out on this

.

As Mark has said, it would seem that Indonesian and Malaysian regions would have relied on imports primarily for weapons production.However,the reference that Rick has posted on prehistoric iron production in Borneo might put some interesting perspective on this.

Again, I think this is a fascinating question and I hope we can get some more responses with more information.

Best regards,
Jim

rahman · 10th February 2005, 03:43 AM

I believe nickel-based iron was exported throughout Southeast Asia from the province of Luwu in Sulawesi. This iron was popular in Java and sumatera, as well as some parts of Malaya until the early 20th Century when European steel and scrap metal with high nickel content was used.

Pls do a search on the old forums. You'll probably find some good info there.

empu kumis · 10th February 2005, 10:44 PM

This could be interesting.

Bulbeck, D. and Caldwell, I. 2000. The land of iron: The historical archaeology of Luwu and the Cenrana Valley. Results of the Origin of Complex Society in South Sulawesi Project (OXIS). Hull: University of Hull Centre for South-East Asian Studies and Canberra: Australian National University School of Archaeology Anthropology.

Jens Nordlunde · 11th February 2005, 09:07 AM

Rahman, what you write seems to be export within the area, maybe they did not have so much iron.
I saw some where that they imported nickel from Solingen, and that this nickel should have given good results, as it was cleaner than what they could get from other places. Unfortunately I have forgotten where I saw it.

Empu kumis, have you read the book? It yes, can you tell us more about it?

Jens

9th February 2005, 07:55 PM	#1
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I only know about continental Southeast Asia. Small amounts of locally mined iron were used in times past, and some imported from China. But after the establishment of Europeans in the area, particularly the British in Burma in the mid-late 19th century, iron and steel were imported from Europe. No export to speak of. Tin, silver and gold were (and are) the major metal exports of the region.

9th February 2005, 08:12 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Here's a tidbit . http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/South...tem.asp?id=934

9th February 2005, 09:34 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Thank you for your mails - this is rather interesting. There have seem to no export of iron from the islands from where the kerise's were made, only from Sri Lanka and India. Regards Jens

9th February 2005, 11:10 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,308	Hi Jens, I think this is an outstanding question, and I cannot recall any references that would suggest export of such raw materials from these regions. As you have noted, the smelted ingots of metal from Sri Lanka and India are well known in history as sources to major sword blade centers. It seems even in ancient times the metal resources for sword blades came from these regions. I will have to search the reference, but I believe I once saw reference to 'Chinese' steel...but I would think that may refer to the Sri Lankan product which may have been transported via trade routes referred to generally as 'China'. In what is now Viet Nam, the region of Cochin was often referred to as 'Cochin China' in the 19th century, possibly earlier ( Dha guys help me out on this . As Mark has said, it would seem that Indonesian and Malaysian regions would have relied on imports primarily for weapons production.However,the reference that Rick has posted on prehistoric iron production in Borneo might put some interesting perspective on this. Again, I think this is a fascinating question and I hope we can get some more responses with more information. Best regards, Jim

10th February 2005, 03:43 AM	#5
rahman Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 84	I believe nickel-based iron was exported throughout Southeast Asia from the province of Luwu in Sulawesi. This iron was popular in Java and sumatera, as well as some parts of Malaya until the early 20th Century when European steel and scrap metal with high nickel content was used. Pls do a search on the old forums. You'll probably find some good info there.

10th February 2005, 10:44 PM	#6
empu kumis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 17	This could be interesting. Bulbeck, D. and Caldwell, I. 2000. The land of iron: The historical archaeology of Luwu and the Cenrana Valley. Results of the Origin of Complex Society in South Sulawesi Project (OXIS). Hull: University of Hull Centre for South-East Asian Studies and Canberra: Australian National University School of Archaeology Anthropology.

11th February 2005, 09:07 AM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Rahman, what you write seems to be export within the area, maybe they did not have so much iron. I saw some where that they imported nickel from Solingen, and that this nickel should have given good results, as it was cleaner than what they could get from other places. Unfortunately I have forgotten where I saw it. Empu kumis, have you read the book? It yes, can you tell us more about it? Jens