Iron production along the Great Wall Belt of the Han Empire: A metallurgical study of an iron smelting site in the Northern Shaanxi, China

Abstract Ironworks of the Han dynasty in Yangqiaopan ancient city are so far the only discovered iron smelting site in Northern Shaanxi. A total of 27 slag samples from the site were analysed. The results of metallographic and elemental analyses suggest that both cast iron smelting and the fining process were employed at the site. In addition, this paper suggests that under the iron monopoly policy, iron production was carried out in prefectures along the Great Wall Belt where iron offices ( tieguan ) were not set up, and iron industry not only satisfied the local demands but also supplied iron to the neighbouring cities.