Team members

Anastasia Cholakova (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences); Frederik Rademakers (KU Leuven); Thilo Rehren (CyI)

Summary

Finds of crucible fragments are relatively common in many excavations of Roman villae, towns and cities, attesting to a wide range of craft activities. Their study can contribute to different aspects of Roman archaeology, ranging from a study of the location of workshops within the layout of the settlements, to an assessment of the scale of activity based on the level of standardization and technical quality of the crucibles, to more technical studies of the metallurgical activities and the interaction between the crucible fabrics, the metal charge, and the heating installations. With this project, we want to explore in detail some of the research potential of such finds using examples from various mostly Roman sites in present-day Bulgaria, demonstrating that they can provide valuable information for the wider understanding and interpretation of the relevant sites, as well as making a contribution to the history of technology and our knowledge about the skills of Roman (and later) craftspeople.