How were lead ingots actually made in ancient times? What material was used for the moulds?
A team of German archaeologists and researchers from the Archaeological Institute, the Mining Museum and the University of Cologne have been investigating these and other questions for over 15 years. As part of a project approved and launched by the German Research Foundation in 2009, Roman lead ingots were examined. Moulds made of wood, clay-clay-sand mixture, stone and metal were examined more closely.
Now, the first results have been published in a scientific article in the Bochum-based journal ‘Metalla’.
Various casting tests in the HOPPECKE laboratory
The article gains exciting insights and findings from an archaeological, epigraphic and scientific analysis. We are delighted to have supported the research team over the past few years and to have been able to make our laboratory available for various casting tests during the research work.
You can find the essay here: doi.org/10.46586/metalla.v28.2024.i1.23-40
