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The production of crucible steel by the ‘Mysore process’ at Ghattihosahalli, Chitradurga District, Karnataka

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Abstract

Crucible steel production at Ghattihosahalli in the nineteenth century has been the subject of detailed study, based both on the contemporary historic record and the physical survival of the mounds of production debris at the village. The published reports have been based on the scientific study of samples collected from the mounds but left questions that could only be resolved by archaeological excavation. Preliminary excavations had already taken place which revealed the remains of a crucible steel smelting installation. Unfortunately the instigator of these investigations, Prof. K.P.N. Rao, died before these could be worked up for publication. This has now been done and the results published here. With the vital information provided by the excavation of the smelting site, it is now possible to give a much more complete description of the operations, not just at Ghattihosahalli, but of the production of crucible steel by the ‘Mysore’ in-situ carburisation process in general.

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Notes

  1. This seems a remarkably small weight, especially as at the end of the process each crucible now contained 24 rupees, ~ 280 gms of steel! At Ghattihosahalli the typical weight of a steel ingot was 13 oz, 370 g.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Late of the Vishvesvaraya College of Engineering, University of Bangalore, 560011, Bangalore, India

    K. Nagesh Rao

  2. Department of Scientific Research, The British Museum, London, WC1B 3DG, England

    P. T. Craddock

  3. Geological Survey of India, Bangalore, 560011, India

    T. R. Anantharamu

Authors
  1. K. Nagesh Rao
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  2. P. T. Craddock
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  3. T. R. Anantharamu
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Correspondence to P. T. Craddock.

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Rao, K.N., Craddock, P.T. & Anantharamu, T.R. The production of crucible steel by the ‘Mysore process’ at Ghattihosahalli, Chitradurga District, Karnataka. Indian J Hist. Sci. 56, 182–194 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43539-021-00021-1

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