Amateur archaeologist in Switzerland unearths 2k-year-old Roman dagger

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 02, 2021, 7:00 AM UTC

lostlogin wrote: post #49

nuccy wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here is another one restored to a better shape [1], close-up [2]. I must admit it doesn't look as perfect as replicas (e.g. in movies), obviously we have much better and precise technology/craftsmanship these days. Probably "as new" may not differ that much from what we restore to. 1. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeology-intern... 2. https://www.archaeology.org/news/8493-200302-germany-roman-d...

The quality of metalwork back then was incredible. Every so often I stumble on images of various hoards, and the gold work in particular is just awesome. Gold ages well, so there is that, but the workmanship is just incredible. The Great Torc from Snettisham is a good example. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Torc_from_Snettisham

[deleted]

Post by ummonk » Thu, Dec 02, 2021, 6:31 PM UTC

wincy wrote: post #28

voz_ wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps you are not deeply familiar with this realm, but trivial (native) copper working is not generally considered metallurgy. For an amateur but no less correct source, wikipedia provides a good quip for us: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallurgy_in_pre-Columbian_Am... Archaeological evidence has not revealed metal smelting or alloying of metals by pre-Columbian native peoples north of the Rio Grande; however, t…

I didn’t realize how easy native copper smelting was until I watched some of those primitive YouTube channels where they make a water filtration system and smelt some copper using a hand made smelter. Linked below if anyone is interested. https://youtube.com/watch?v=f0BjU20kU5E

It's not exactly easy - requires good quality coal, and fine tuning to get the right airflow to coal ratio to create a sufficiently hot furnace without becoming oxidizing. Those guys describe having to try multiple times before working out a successful process to produce copper, documenting a couple of their experiments in videos. They've nicely fully documented their final configuration in this video - some high quality experimental archeology work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYaJuab5riE

Keep in mind that you have to be wary of poisonous fumes - hopefully the elements giving their copper alloy a brassy appearance don't include lead, or worse, arsenic.

Re: Amateur archaeologist in Switzerland unearths 2k-year-old Roman dagger

Re: Amateur archaeologist in Switzerland unearths 2k-year-old Roman dagger