A roll-headed pin from Getzersdorf, Austria, opens up interesting questions about iron metallurgy in the Hallstatt period

The findings from the Hallstatt period cementery at Getzersdorf an der Traisen, Lower Austria, are currently being re-examined (HaC, approx. 800–450 BC). Among the iron findings, a roll-headed pin was made available for metallographic examinations. The metallographic preparation clearly showed the curled roll-head, corrosion products, and slag inclusions. Somewhat larger inclusions were noticeable and could not be identified as common iron slag. A SEM-EDS analysis revealed that these particles contain a lot of chromium so that it could be the mineral chromite (FeCr ₂O ₄). This chromite was probably introduced during the forging process. As would be expected from the Damascus technique, the iron matrix revealed a layered structure. The clearly demarcated iron layers are remarkable and can only be explained by a forging process at low temperatures. Given that it is a Hallstatt roll-headed pin, this microstructure is very surprising.