A preliminary study on the role and implication of plate-type iron artifacts in the ancient iron technology of Korea

► Plate-type iron objects played a crucial role in ancient iron industry of Korean. ► They were made of low carbon iron containing non-metallic inclusions. ► Presence of bloomery-based iron technology in ancient Korea proposed. ► Questions are raised to the theory of Korean iron originating purely from China. ► Interaction with the north or the south proposed as other sources of Korean iron.