DOI Artikel:
Biernacka-Lubańska, Małgorzata: Roman lead pipe production technology
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41276#0033
Małgorzata Biernacka-Lubańska
Warszawa
ROMAN LEAD PIPĘ PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
The principal group of sources for any study of Roman lead pipę production
technology are the actual remains of pipes, uncovered in archaeological excavations
or held in various archaeological museums where they had been sent in conseąuen-
ce of completed explorations of historie structures or chance finds madę during
construction or agricultural work. Thus, it is possible to distingu ish a group of finds
with known provenience and current storage place, and bigger groups appearing
in situ on archaeological sites, as the lead pipę watersupply Systems discovered
at Bologna, Romę, Pompeii,1 Ostia,2 the Roman villa at Minori near Amalfi,3 at
Merida4 and Novae near Sviśtov.5 It should be said that most of the evidence has
failed to survive to our times, having been promptly reused by the discoverers.6
It should also be madę elear that these sources have not been reviewed and studied
comprehensively. The evidence on hand is limited to brief notes about the discover-
ies that are scattered in excavation reports and publications, and additionally in
a few studies principally devoted to a morę generał understanding of the matter,
in which the inscriptions on some of the lead pipes have served as grounds for
discussing the production and the management and administration procedures of
these particular watersupply systems7 under the Roman Empire.
Only a handful of contributory studies have been devoted to a discussion of
the process of production. Among the most important is A. Cochef s article, in
which the author based his preliminary characteristic of certain techniąues of
producing lead pipes on the results of technological examinations,8 and the work
by E. Fassitelli,9 discussing the kinds of lead pipes and providing a preliminary
classification. Some space was devoted to a discussion of the types of Roman lead
pipę production establishments in Ch. Bruun’s work,10 but without paying attention
to the aspects of the research that are the domain of a historian of materiał culture.
It is for these reasons and in view of the widespread occurrence of lead water pipes
in the area of modern Bułgaria, which has been the focus of my scholarly interests
and research sińce many years ago, that 1 have decided to study the evidence from
this region. That is why 1 have sent samples of the most interesting pieces to be
examined metallurgically at the Central Laboratory of the Institute of Archaeology
Warszawa
ROMAN LEAD PIPĘ PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
The principal group of sources for any study of Roman lead pipę production
technology are the actual remains of pipes, uncovered in archaeological excavations
or held in various archaeological museums where they had been sent in conseąuen-
ce of completed explorations of historie structures or chance finds madę during
construction or agricultural work. Thus, it is possible to distingu ish a group of finds
with known provenience and current storage place, and bigger groups appearing
in situ on archaeological sites, as the lead pipę watersupply Systems discovered
at Bologna, Romę, Pompeii,1 Ostia,2 the Roman villa at Minori near Amalfi,3 at
Merida4 and Novae near Sviśtov.5 It should be said that most of the evidence has
failed to survive to our times, having been promptly reused by the discoverers.6
It should also be madę elear that these sources have not been reviewed and studied
comprehensively. The evidence on hand is limited to brief notes about the discover-
ies that are scattered in excavation reports and publications, and additionally in
a few studies principally devoted to a morę generał understanding of the matter,
in which the inscriptions on some of the lead pipes have served as grounds for
discussing the production and the management and administration procedures of
these particular watersupply systems7 under the Roman Empire.
Only a handful of contributory studies have been devoted to a discussion of
the process of production. Among the most important is A. Cochef s article, in
which the author based his preliminary characteristic of certain techniąues of
producing lead pipes on the results of technological examinations,8 and the work
by E. Fassitelli,9 discussing the kinds of lead pipes and providing a preliminary
classification. Some space was devoted to a discussion of the types of Roman lead
pipę production establishments in Ch. Bruun’s work,10 but without paying attention
to the aspects of the research that are the domain of a historian of materiał culture.
It is for these reasons and in view of the widespread occurrence of lead water pipes
in the area of modern Bułgaria, which has been the focus of my scholarly interests
and research sińce many years ago, that 1 have decided to study the evidence from
this region. That is why 1 have sent samples of the most interesting pieces to be
examined metallurgically at the Central Laboratory of the Institute of Archaeology