Retour sur les lingots de plomb de Comacchio (Ferrara, Italie) en passant par l'archeometrie et l'epigraphie

Abstract

Up to now the origin of 102 lead ingots of the Comacchio (Ferrara, Italy) relict, found in 1981, has been difficult to solve and different hypothesis have been proposed. Recently 20 representative ingots have been analysed at the European JRC Laboratory of Ispra(Italy) and the lead isotope signature determined. From the performed results we may suggest the ores of Cartagena-Mazarron or Sierra Almagrera (Sud-East of Spain) be the probable lead origin of ingots. Archaeological examination and epigraphic arguments indicate Cartagena-Mazarron as the most probable of the two mine regions. The role of different persons, whose names are reported on the ingots, is discussed under a commercial point of view. We try to understand the commercial travel of the ship and the presence of the ingots in the Nord Adriatic sea.