LUCAS HEIGHTS, NSW, May 9 -- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization issued the following media release:
Key Points
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Non-invasive nuclear techniques have helped to reveal the composition and manufacturing history of historic African swords associated with Dahomey's unique female fighting force
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The swords may likely have been made from locally smelted iron
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The research sheds new light on African craftsmanship and technological sophistication
ANSTO scientists from the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering were members of an inter-disciplinary team led by the University of Sydney, who examined six 19th century West African swords, using a non-invasive multi-methodological approach to reveal the composition and ma...