Short answer
Designers can learn from the enduring functionality and material properties of historical artifacts, considering how established production methods and trade routes influenced the dissemination of goods.
- Field
- Final Production
- Source
- Journal of Ancient History and Archeology (2014)
- Method
- Archaeological analysis and comparative artifact study
- Evidence
- Strong effect
The analysis of a Roman thin-cast bronze saucepan reveals specific manufacturing techniques and provides evidence for established trade routes connecting the Italic Peninsula to the Danubian region. This final production research insight is drawn from a 2014 study published in Journal of Ancient History and Archeology. Using Archaeological analysis and comparative artifact study, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers can learn from the enduring functionality and material properties of historical artifacts, considering how established production methods and trade routes influenced the dissemination of goods.
Roman Thin-Cast Bronze Saucepan Production and Trade Route Identification
The analysis of a Roman thin-cast bronze saucepan reveals specific manufacturing techniques and provides evidence for established trade routes connecting the Italic Peninsula to the Danubian region.
Journal of Ancient History and Archeology · 2014
Key Findings
- 01The saucepan is identified as a variant of Petrovszky type III thin-cast saucepans.
- 02Production is dated to the late 1st century BC to the third decade of the 1st century AD.
- 03The likely production workshop is located in the north-eastern Italic Peninsula, possibly Aquileia.
- 04This is the first confirmed discovery of such saucepans in the north Danubian territory.
- 05The artifact attests to trade relations along the route connecting Aquileia with the Sava Valley and the Danube during the Augustan Age.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers can learn from the enduring functionality and material properties of historical artifacts, considering how established production methods and trade routes influenced the dissemination of goods.
How to apply
When researching the history of a product category, consider the material science, manufacturing processes, and distribution networks of similar items from different historical periods to understand design evolution and market dynamics.
Project actions
- 01When analyzing an artifact, consider its material, how it was made, and where it was found to understand its story.
- 02Look for connections between the object's production and its distribution to understand historical trade and cultural exchange.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides concrete archaeological evidence for historical trade.
- +Connects material analysis with historical context.
Limitations
The findings are based on a single artifact, and the precise location of the workshop is an educated guess. The study does not account for potential reuse or secondary movement of the artifact.
Reliability & validity
Reliability is supported by the comparative analysis with established typologies. Validity is strengthened by the artifact's context of discovery and its contribution to understanding known historical trade routes.
Think critically
How might the discovery of similar artifacts in other locations further corroborate or challenge the proposed trade routes and workshop origins?
Design Principles
"The provenance and material composition of an artifact can reveal significant information about its manufacturing context and historical trade networks."
Understanding the material properties, manufacturing processes, and geographical distribution of ancient artifacts like this saucepan offers insights into historical production capabilities and economic networks. This knowledge can inform contemporary design and manufacturing by highlighting the longevity and adaptability of certain material choices and production methods.
What This Means for Your Design
This study shows how a specific type of Roman cooking pot, made with a particular metal casting technique, was found far from where it was made, proving that ancient trade routes were active and that people were using these pots in new places.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this study as an example of how to analyze the material properties and production methods of an artifact to infer its origin and historical significance.
- 2.Cite this research when discussing the trade of manufactured goods or the evolution of specific product types across different regions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The analysis of Roman thin-cast bronze saucepans, such as the example from Ardeu, demonstrates how material properties and manufacturing techniques can serve as indicators of production origin and historical trade routes. This research highlights the importance of comparative artifact studies in reconstructing ancient economic networks and understanding the diffusion of technology.
Source
Journal of Ancient History and Archeology
A ROMAN THIN-CAST BRONZE SAUCEPAN FROM THE DACIAN FORTRESS AT ARDEU (HUNEDOARA COUNTY, ROMANIA)
journal · 2014
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about roman thin-cast bronze saucepan production and trade route identification?
- Designers can learn from the enduring functionality and material properties of historical artifacts, considering how established production methods and trade routes influenced the dissemination of goods. Evidence: Journal of Ancient History and Archeology (2014).
- Why does "Roman Thin-Cast Bronze Saucepan Production and Trade Route Identification" matter for design?
- Understanding the material properties, manufacturing processes, and geographical distribution of ancient artifacts like this saucepan offers insights into historical production capabilities and economic networks. This knowledge can inform contemporary design and manufacturing by highlighting the longevity and adaptability of certain material choices and production methods.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers can learn from the enduring functionality and material properties of historical artifacts, considering how established production methods and trade routes influenced the dissemination of goods.
- What were the main findings?
- The saucepan is identified as a variant of Petrovszky type III thin-cast saucepans.. Production is dated to the late 1st century BC to the third decade of the 1st century AD.. The likely production workshop is located in the north-eastern Italic Peninsula, possibly Aquileia.. This is the first confirmed discovery of such saucepans in the north Danubian territory.
- What research method was used?
- Archaeological analysis and comparative artifact study.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2014 journal from Journal of Ancient History and Archeology.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When researching the history of a product category, consider the material science, manufacturing processes, and distribution networks of similar items from different historical periods to understand design evolution and market dynamics.
- What are the limitations?
- The analysis is based on a single artifact and comparative studies, which may be subject to interpretation. The exact workshop location is inferred rather than definitively proven.