Metallurgical and Technological Characterization of a Lombard Seax from North Italy

A metallurgical and technological characterization of a seventh century seax coming from the Lombard necropolis of Campo San Giovanni in Leno (Brescia, northern Italy) was carried out to investigate the smithing technology involved in the blade manufacturing process. At first, a metric-based typological investigation of the seax was performed. X-ray radiography was used to gain a preliminary non-destructive technological assessment of the object. Optical microscopy and Vickers hardness measurements have allowed a metallurgical and mechanical characterization of the metal matrix both at the upper and lower blade portion. The results show that the seax blade was forged using different steel bars and also hypereutectoid steel. In addition, a selective quenching was performed by the ancient blacksmith to enhance the cutting-edge hardness. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray dispersive spectroscopy was employed to determine the chemistry of a large sample of nonmetallic inclusions entrapped within the metal matrix. A multivariate statistical analysis of the inclusions compositional data was used to carefully examine the composite nature of the artefact and trace the origin of the seax steel.