Chromium steel first made in ancient Persia

Chromium steel, long considered a 20th century innovation, was in fact first made in Persia nearly a millennium earlier, according to a new study.

The discovery, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was made with the aid of medieval Persian manuscripts, which led researchers to an archaeological site in Chahak, southern Iran.

And it’s significant for more than just setting the record straight, according to lead author Rahil Alipour, an archaeologist with University College London.