Wootz steel is a type of high-carbon crucible steel historically produced in South India and Sri Lanka, known for its strength, sharpness, and characteristic banded microstructure.Srinivasan, Sharada (1994). "Wootz crucible steel: a newly discovered production site in South India". Institute of Archaeology. It originated by at least the mid-1st millennium BCE and was widely exported across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.Craddock, Paul (2003). Early Metal Mining and Production. Edinburgh University Press.