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Detectorist finds Roman lead pig ingot in Wales
archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com ^ | June 23, 2020 | Dominic Robertson | Source: Shropshire Star

Posted on 06/28/2020 3:51:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

The object found was a large lead ingot or 'pig' (about half a metre long, weighing 63 kilograms). The 'writing' reported by Mr Jones was a cast Latin inscription confirming that it was Roman and about 2,000 years old... The exploitation of Britain's natural resources was one of the reasons cited by Roman authors for the invasion of Britain by the Emperor Claudius in AD 43... Lead ore or galena contains silver as well as lead, and both were valuable commodities for the Romans. Less than a hundred lead ingots of this type are known from the mines of Roman Britain... The rare find is particularly significant for archaeologists and historians because of its potentially early date, the location of the find spot, and because of its unique inscription... Lead was mined and processed in several areas of the new province including in north-east Wales where lead processing sites have been excavated near Flint, presumably smelting ores extracted from the nearby Halkyn Mountain... The inscription appears to mention one Marcus Trebellius Maximus, who was the governor of the province of Britannia under the Emperor Nero from AD 63-69.

(Excerpt) Read more at archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: britannia; coins; galena; godsgravesglyphs; halkynmountain; lead; mtrebelliusmaximus; nero; romanempire; romansilver; silver; wales
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The lead pig in situ [Credit: Wrexham Council]

Credit: Wrexham Council

1 posted on 06/28/2020 3:51:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 06/28/2020 3:52:03 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Was probably destined to carry drinking water.


3 posted on 06/28/2020 3:53:00 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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4 posted on 06/28/2020 3:54:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

A great book by Lindsey Davis about the lead and silver mines in England during the Vespasian-era Roman Empire, and smuggling stolen mined silver by disguising it as lead pigs ...

5 posted on 06/28/2020 4:21:50 PM PDT by BlueLancer (Orchides Forum Trahite - Cordes Et Mentes Veniant)
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To: SunkenCiv

Re; Oak Island, they traced the lead cross lead back to France (1200 to 1600 AD)


6 posted on 06/28/2020 4:24:01 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: Cold Heart

Is it even possible? Yes, it is.
Giorgio A. Tsoukalos

7 posted on 06/28/2020 4:34:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: BlueLancer
Thanks, looks like something I'd got on audiobook.

8 posted on 06/28/2020 4:34:58 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: BenLurkin

Smacked that horse on the ass with his last dying gasp. That’s how the ingot got inlost lost.


9 posted on 06/28/2020 4:42:38 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I’m rather curious how the bar didn’t oxidize and maintained the outer markings. That’s rather remarkable, like that other bar that was found which had perfect markings on it too, oddly enough.


10 posted on 06/28/2020 4:43:16 PM PDT by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
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To: kingu

Agree

I’ve seen a few lead bars, relatively young, gray and oxidized.

Tin in the alloy will help, though.


11 posted on 06/28/2020 4:47:49 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
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To: SunkenCiv

This pig was so heavy, it didn’t fly.


12 posted on 06/28/2020 4:47:59 PM PDT by Redcitizen (Nobody needs a 10 round magazine. You need a 30 round magazine.)
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To: kingu

“I’m rather curious how the bar didn’t oxidize and maintained the outer markings. That’s rather remarkable, like that other bar that was found which had perfect markings on it too, oddly enough.”

I was wondering that too. Especially in Wales. Kind of wet there.


13 posted on 06/28/2020 5:07:29 PM PDT by dljordan
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To: Scrambler Bob

If I understand the theory right, silver in the bars would supposedly act like tin, but even that will oxidize quickly in terms of being underground for 2,000 years. Found in farmland too; I’ve pulled up a lot of minie balls and round ball from farmland, ain’t never came across an example that’d hold such a pattern.

Lead hardened with Linotype also oxidizes over time.


14 posted on 06/28/2020 5:12:38 PM PDT by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Please remove me from this list


15 posted on 06/28/2020 5:19:50 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
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To: kingu

I will guess lead glaze. The Romans lead glazed their pottery.


16 posted on 06/28/2020 5:49:08 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: SunkenCiv

Fake discovery.


17 posted on 06/28/2020 8:14:04 PM PDT by Kirkwood (Follow your Inner Trump)
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To: kingu; Scrambler Bob

Maybe the silver content, plus the moisture.


18 posted on 06/28/2020 8:15:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Redcitizen
Historically, that also happened in the medieval Scandinavian city of Dah. That's why there was always a Hog in Dah.

19 posted on 06/28/2020 8:17:56 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Kirkwood
I love that one guy's hat.

20 posted on 06/28/2020 8:18:35 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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