Abstract:Technological inspections were conducted on six iron objects excavated from the ancient tombs in the surrounding areas of the Ancient Zhenghan City in Xinzheng, Henan, and nearby regions. Two experimental methods, metallographic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), were used to observe the metallurgical structure and analyze the composition of impurities in the samples. The types of samples include swords, belt hooks, knives, and shovels. After analysis, it is found that all the samples are made of cast iron and steel, including three pieces of cast iron decarburization products, one white-cast iron product, one ductile cast iron product, and one puddling steel product. The manufacturing techniques of the excavated iron objects are significantly different, with selective use of processing techniques such as forging and annealing after casting. there are cast iron decarburized samples with high manganese characteristics, which may be related to the use of manganese containing ores for smelting. The results show that the iron making technology of the Warring States period was still used in the Central Plains region during the Han Dynasty (from Wang Mang""s New Dynasty to the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty), further understanding the development of iron making technology during this period.