Archeometallurgical study of a renaissance spearhead from northern Italy

A metallurgical study of a Renaissance spearhead from northern Italy was performed to provide new deep insights into both smelting and smithing technologies which are involved in the manufacturing process. Optical microscopy observations, Vickers microhardness measurements, and optical emission spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that the spearhead was skillfully assembled and shaped from different steel bars, and a slack-quenching heat treatment was performed on the blade to improve its functionality. The chemistry of a large sample of nonmetallic inclusions was characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray dispersive spectroscopy. A multivariate statistical data treatment based on logistic regression was applied to assess the technological origin of the steel bars. The results allowed to conclude that the spearhead steel was obtained following the indirect steel-making route. The temperatures reached during both smelting and smithing stages were estimated in the FeO–SiO2–CaO system at 1470 °C and 1200 °C, respectively.