>At the weekend, several members of Shropshire Mines Trust cast a 190lb
>lead pig which is an exact replica of Roman ones dug up in Shropshire.
Adrian,
A quick glance at a list of lead pigs from the Roman occupation period
(Tylecote, Prehistory of Metallurgy in the British Isles, pp.62-5) suggests
the majority found were around 80kg. Which does indicate that they were not
moved by packhorse. Later practice probably involved lighter pigs - however
some 'Roman' pigs were around 40-50kg, a more manageable size, but there is
no discernable pattern i.e. lighter pigs in upland areas.
As to the smelting technology used - I doubt anyone can give you a
definitive answer. A few hearths have been investigated which appear to
suggest a small blast(?) furnace but recently a wind blown (bole) hearth
apparently of Roman occupation date was excavated in mid Wales.
Peter
________________________________________________________
Dr Peter Claughton,
Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. 01437 532578: Fax. 01437 532921: Mobile 07831 427599
University of Exeter - SHiPSS
(Centre for South Western Historical Studies)
Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list
See http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/mining-history/ for details
Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/
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