Thanks you all very much that helps a lot!
I should be getting some analysis done in a few months (sept / Oct)
which might be interesting and I can pass on the data if anyones
interested? Just email me, however it won't be until ~Oct (and it's
only XRD...).
Your comments are really quite interesting, particularly as we don't
have much evidence of metalworking of any kind on site - a few
fragments of Fe rich slags, no cuppels (though I'm going to double
check this again). I think the nearest source of argentiferous lead
(that I'm aware of) is North of Montpellier around Mount Lozere (which
would be around +100 km away) though we are just next to the coast of
course...
thanks again
L
[log in to unmask]
On 15 July 2010 14:06, Erica Hanning <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I showed the fotos to Frau Körlin (Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum), who
> found such tubes when excavating a Roman lead mine in Lüderich (Bergischen
> Land), and when the object is actually lead, then it is probably refuse
> from extracting silver. The silver-bearing lead is melted in a crucible in
> an oxidizing atmosphere. A lead oxide is formed on the surface of the molten
> metal where it is then drawn off by dipping (iron) rods into the bath, onto
> which the lead oxide adheres - thus creating such tubes. The process is
> repeated until all of the lead is oxidized only the silver is left in the
> bottom of the crucible.
> Frau Körlin also mentioned that similiar tubes were also found at an
> excavation of a Villa in Rheinland Pfalz (Villa am Silberberg, Ahrweiler :
> http://www.bad-neuenahr-ahrweiler.de/bildung_kultur_freizeit/museen/museum_roemervilla/index.html).
> A description of the finds from Lüderich can be found in :
> Körlin, Gabriele, (2002): Die Römer auf dem Lüderich - Grabungen 2000-2002 .
> in "Bergbau im Bergischen Land" Beispiele von Bergbauspuren zwischen Sülz
> und Wahnbach". Schriftenreihe des Geschichtsvereins Rösrath E.V. Band 32,
> 2002
> A picture of one of the lead tubes from Lüderich can be found in
> Archäologie im Rheinland 1997, p91, though is interpreted there as a lead
> weight (Bleisenker)
>
>> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:03:55 +0100
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Mystery Object
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Dear List,
>>
>>
>> While working on a site in the south of France, not far from the coast we
>> recovered a "mystery" object in a pit / "large posthole" containing an
>> assortment of archaeological debris, including a large quantity of animal
>> bone and ceramic. The feature is thought to be Antique and is not far from a
>> small kiln (though this is full of spoiled ceramics). On the site we also
>> have large structural features primarily a temple and several ritual
>> deposits of metal artefacts. The site is situated on the interface between a
>> butte and a floodplain which gives on to the sea just a couple of kilometers
>> to the south.
>>
>> I've discussed with a local geologist just to verify if it's not some kind
>> of local geological oddity, and through the course of our discussion we did
>> come to the conclusions that is is probably the accidental product from a
>> metallurgical process (the geolgist in question has worked on several mines
>> and I have a modest knowledge of metallurgy).
>>
>>
>> Dimensions:
>>
>> 18cm long x 1.5cm dia.
>>
>> weight:
>>
>> 200.5g
>>
>> Brief description:
>>
>> Examination of the cross section shows an annular accicular crystalline
>> structure - each ring being approximatively the same thickness ~1mm, all
>> fairly regular and showing no inter growth between the rings)
>> The material has high lustre (when cleaned) and is a dark pinkish in
>> colour, it is partially covered covered with a patena of white oxide - Pb?).
>> Also not magnetic, and doesn't produce a positive reaction with HCL...
>>
>> hopefully if you click/ copy the link below you should be able to see
>> three pictures (sorry the resolution isn't amazing)
>>
>> http://thehumanjourney.net/pnp/files/fsXqVBGJl/
>>
>> If anyone happens to have any ideas, views, opinions or best guesses I'd
>> very interested to know. If anyone wants more info just mail me directly:
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>>
>> Luke Howarth
>>
>> Géoarchéologue
>> OA Méditerranée
>> France
>
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