Historical, archaeological, and science based investigations on the lead production in the Roman Empire

• Applicant: Dr. Peter Rothenhöfer
• Subject Area: Ancient History
• Term: from 2009 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 110386935

The research project is aimed at gaining deeper insight into the ancient economic history in the field of metal production and distribution. Object of investigation is the soft metal lead in the form of ingots as direct mining products. In the Roman period lead was a widely traded commodity. Produced on a large scale in mining areas of different provinces it was supplied as solid ingots to all provinces of the Roman Empire. Despite its importance, in classical studies and archaeometallurgy lead has been hitherto rather neglected. The project is intended to fill this gap and develop new insights into Roman mining operations, structures of metal extraction, the distribution of lead, the organization of the metal trade. For this the comprehensive compilation of all Roman lead ingots is of fundamental importance combining epigraphic, archaeological and metallurgical studies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Andreas Hauptmann