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This is an interesting find:
"We're very excited about this find," University of Michigan Professor Nicola Terrenato said in a summary of the finding. "Romans as a rule were not buried in coffins to begin with and when they did use coffins, they were mostly wooden. There are only a handful of other examples from Italy of lead coffins from this age."
According to The National Geographic : Lead was a high-value metal at the time, so a full sarcophagus made out of the stuff “is a sure marker of somebody of some kind of substance,” Becker said.Past lead burials found throughout Europe have housed soldiers, elite members of the Christian church, and even female gladiators.In fact, many lead coffins contain high-ranking women or adolescents instead of men, said Jenny Hall, a senior curator of Roman archaeology at the Museum of London, who was not involved in the new study.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100329-roman-sarcophagus-gladiator-lead-burrito/ Here another example conserved at the Royal Museum of Mariemont, Belgium : A lead sarcophagus (175 cm long) thought to be from Sidon or Sa?da in Lebanonhttp://www.musee-mariemont.be/accueil/musee_et_collections/reamenagement_des_salles/le_transfert_du_sarcophage_en_plomb/ However one reader comment states that inside this lead coffin, your first refer : might find some new liberal party policies hidden away for safe keeping! Get it, Count Iggy...coffin....long forgotten dead policies...never mind! ???
However one reader comment states that inside this lead coffin, your first refer : might find some new liberal party policies hidden away for safe keeping! Get it, Count Iggy...coffin....long forgotten dead policies...never mind! ???
I had seen that. Sometimes the comments are just as entertaining as the stories, aren't they?
Sometimes the comments on news stories and such are better than the stories themselves. What I am constantly amazed by is the way people can bring politics into just about anything. Generally comments sections devolve into liberal vs conservative flame wars, which is kind of sad if you think about it. 🙁
So why lead? Any theories?
That's a good question. Seems somewhat odd that it would have been merely because of status because funeral stele that marked tombs were where displays of power or prestige would have been communicated; not with the underground coffin. Also, the lead coffin looked like a wrapped burrito of sorts, hardly something aesthetically-pleasing. So really I don't know why lead was used.
So why lead? Any theories?
That's a good question. Seems somewhat odd that it would have been merely because of status because funeral stele that marked tombs were where displays of power or prestige would have been communicated; not with the underground coffin. Also, the lead coffin looked like a wrapped burrito of sorts, hardly something aesthetically-pleasing. So really I don't know why lead was used.
POSSIBILITIES: Lead is easily worked and formed into various shapes including sheets and curved surfaces. Water pipes in Rome were often made of lead--lots of people know how to work it. The Italian name for lead is piombo--akin the plumber! Lead is not expensive compared to bronze, silver or gold Lead in relatively inert--no rust and minimum oxidation--lasts a long timeJust ruminating.
So why lead? Any theories?
That's a good question. Seems somewhat odd that it would have been merely because of status because funeral stele that marked tombs were where displays of power or prestige would have been communicated; not with the underground coffin. Also, the lead coffin looked like a wrapped burrito of sorts, hardly something aesthetically-pleasing. So really I don't know why lead was used.
POSSIBILITIES: Lead is easily worked and formed into various shapes including sheets and curved surfaces. Water pipes in Rome were often made of lead--lots of people know how to work it. The Italian name for lead is piumbo--akin the plumber! Lead is not expensive compared to bronze, silver or gold Lead in relatively inert--no rust and minimum oxidation--lasts a long timeJust ruminating.
So why lead? Any theories?
That's a good question. Seems somewhat odd that it would have been merely because of status because funeral stele that marked tombs were where displays of power or prestige would have been communicated; not with the underground coffin. Also, the lead coffin looked like a wrapped burrito of sorts, hardly something aesthetically-pleasing. So really I don't know why lead was used.
POSSIBILITIES: Lead is easily worked and formed into various shapes including sheets and curved surfaces. Water pipes in Rome were often made of lead--lots of people know how to work it. The Italian name for lead is piombo--akin the plumber! Lead is not expensive compared to bronze, silver or gold Lead in relatively inert--no rust and minimum oxidation--lasts a long timeJust ruminating.
Wasn't thought in ancient times that lead would reatard or even stop bodily decay after death. I seem to remember reading that in connection with Egyptian mummies somehwere. Unfortunately, I cant point to any sources just a dim memory.
According to The National Geographic : Lead was a high-value metal at the time, so a full sarcophagus made out of the stuff "is a sure marker of somebody of some kind of substance," Becker said.Past lead burials found throughout Europe have housed soldiers, elite members of the Christian church, and even female gladiators.In fact, many lead coffins contain high-ranking women or adolescents instead of men, said Jenny Hall, a senior curator of Roman archaeology at the Museum of London, who was not involved in the new study.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100329-roman-sarcophagus-gladiator-lead-burrito/
