Girbal, B. (2011). Roman and Medieval Litharge Cakes : A Scientific Examination. Fort Cumberland: Historic England. https://doi.org/10.5284/1046894. Cite this using datacite

Title
Title
The title of the publication or report
Title:		 Roman and Medieval Litharge Cakes : A Scientific Examination
Series
Series
The series the publication or report is included in
Series:		 Historic England Research Reports
Downloads
Downloads
Any files associated with the publication or report that can be downloaded from the ADS
Downloads:
englishh2-310634_1.pdf (17 MB) : Download
Licence Type
Licence Type
ADS, CC-BY 4.0 or CC-BY 4.0 NC.
Licence Type:
ADS Terms of Use and Access icon
ADS Terms of Use and Access
DOI
DOI
The DOI (digital object identifier) for the publication or report.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5284/1046894
Publication Type
Publication Type
The type of publication - report, monograph, journal article or chapter from a book
Publication Type:		 Report (in Series)
Abstract
Abstract
The abstract describing the content of the publication or report
Abstract:		 The refining of silver alloys to obtain the silver they contain (cupellation) has been undertaken for thousands of years. The primary material evidence for this process comprises a lead-rich waste known as litharge cakes. Studies conducted by Bayley and Eckstein (2006) and Bayley (2009) suggested that cupellation in the medieval period was more successful/advanced than in Roman times based on the higher PbO/Cu2O ratio in the medieval litharge cakes. The analyses of a further forty five litharge fragments from twelve archaeological sites has found no correlation between the PbO/Cu2O ratio and time period. The microstructural and chemical analyses showed that there were two major compositions; a clay/vegetable ash mixture and bone ash. No correlation was identified between hearth lining composition and the PbO/Cu2O ratio. However, it is argued that the clay/vegetable ash was more absorbent than the bone ash litharge cakes. It was also noticed that 90% of the medieval litharge was clay/vegetable ash while they accounted for only 50% of the Roman litharge. This may be indicative of a compositional preference in certain time periods. Unfortunately the dating is poor in most cases limiting more comprehensive interpretations. Nevertheless there is no evidence to suggest a more effective practice at either period.
Author
Author
The authors of this publication or report
Author:		 B Girbal
Publisher
Publisher
The publisher of the publication or report
Publisher:		 Historic England
Other Person/Org
Other Person/Org
Other people or organisations for this publication or report
Other Person/Org:		 Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Please note: this record has been validated by-proxy by Historic England.
Year of Publication
Year of Publication
The year the book, article or report was published
Year of Publication:		 2011
Locations
Locations
Any locations covered by the publication or report. This is not the place the book or report was published.
Locations:
Site: No.1 Poultry
County: Greater London
District: City of London
Parish: CITY OF LONDON
Country: England
Grid Reference: 532580, 181100 (Easting, Northing)
Subjects / Periods
Subjects / Periods
Subjects / Periods associated with this record.
Subjects / Periods:
MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods) LITHARGE (Object England)
ROMAN (Historic England Periods) LITHARGE (Object England)
MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods) SITE (Monument Type England)
ROMAN (Historic England Periods) SITE (Monument Type England)
FIELD SURVEY (Event)
Identifiers
Identifiers
Identifiers associated with the publication. These might include DOIs, site codes, Monument Identifiers etc.
Identifiers:
OASIS Id: englishh2-310634
OBIB: 51/2011
Note
Note
Extra information on the publication or report.
Note:		 A4 bound report of 80pp.
Source
Source
Where the record has come from or which dataset it was orginally included in.
Source:
Source icon
OASIS (OASIS)
Relations
Relations
Other resources which are relevant to this publication or report
Relations:
Created Date
Created Date
The date the record of the pubication was first entered
Created Date:		 05 Apr 2018