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 ...
I’ve added it to cart, looks like there are a lot by the author. Have you ever read the Britannia novels of Rosemary Sutcliff? If so, how do these authors compare? Tnx.
Well in the next door Scandinavian city of Daz, they would cool the pig ingots in ice, that’s what you call Haagen-Dazs.
“Silver Pigs” is the firs in the Marcus Didius Falco mystery series ... I have the entire series both in hardback and e-book. I can safely say that it is one of my favorite series that I try to re-read at least once per year.
I have read the “Britannia” series, along with the “Libertus” series by Rosemary Rowe, as well as the “Roman Sub Rosa” series (Gordianus the Finder) by Steven Saylor. They are all very good, but I still like the Falco series the best.
Thanks! I’ll probably go with the audiobook version, else I’ll never get to it. I have read almost no fiction these last, hmm, 35 years, but have knocked off a bunch of Clive Cussler audiobooks. I wonder if my Kindle-addicted sister would enjoy “Silver Pigs” as well... seems like a good reason to send her something that arrives as a surprise and cheap. :^)
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