Prehistory of Taiwan - Iron Age

Iron Age

Artifacts of iron and other metals appeared on Taiwan around the beginning of the Common Era. At first these were trade goods, but by around 400 AD wrought iron was being produced locally using bloomeries, a technology possibly introduced from the Philippines. Distinct Iron Age cultures have been identified in different parts of the island: the Shihsanhang Culture in the north, the Fanzaiyuan Culture in the northwest, the Daqiuyuan Culture in the hills of southwest Nantou County, the Kanding Culture in the central west, the Niaosung Culture in the southwest, the Guishan Culture at the southern tip of the island, and the Jingpu Culture on the east coast. The earliest trade goods from China found on the island date from the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD).