Late roman metallurgy in el castro of el castillón

Late Roman Metallurgy in Castro of El
Castillón (Santa Eulalia de Tábara,
Zamora)
Jose Carlos Sastre Blanco (Universidad de Granada)*
Patricia Fuentes Melgar (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)**

Resumen:

Durante los años 2007, 2008 y 2009, se han venido llevando a
cabo diversas campañas de excavaciones y prospecciones en el castro de El
Castillón (Santa Eulalia de Tábara, Zamora), con una amplia cronología
que iría desde la Edad del Bronce, a tenor de unas pinturas esquemáticas
situadas en una pequeña covacha ubicada en este castro, pasando por la
Edad del Hierro, de la cual se han documentado pocos restos hasta el
momento, llegando a la época tardoantigua (siglos IV-VI d.C.) que es la
que se han centrado las excavaciones llevadas hasta el momento. Estas
excavaciones, encuadradas dentro del Proyecto de Investigación y Difusión
del Patrimonio Arqueológico Protohistórico sobre la Provincia de Zamora,
han manifestado una importante labor metalúrgica en este castro,
corroborada con la presencia de dos complejas estructuras ovales de
grandes dimensiones, asociadas con el trabajo de diferentes metales. La
gran cantidad de escorias de hierro recuperadas en el interior de estas
estructuras, y la gran potencia estratigráfica que poseen las mismas nos
hablan de una prolongada utilización de esta zona metalúrgica para el
procesado de metales, durante la época tardoantigua (siglos IV-VI a.C.).
Este trabajo metalúrgico desarrollado en estas estructuras se ve
reflejado en una amplia panoplia de elementos metálicos recuperados en
los diferentes sondeos realizados a cabo en este yacimiento, entre los que
se encuentran algunos elementos de gran calidad, como un osculatorio de
bronce decorado por dos aves afrontadas, un pendiente circular de bronce,
una hebilla de cobre, unas pequeñas pinzas de bronce, asas de cobre,

* Jose Carlos Sastre Blanco (josesastreb@hotmail.com)
** Patricia Fuentes Melgar (pf_melgar@yahoo.es)

numerosísimos clavos de hierro, punzones, cuchillos y navajas, arandelas
de hierro, elementos indeterminados, etc.
Palabras Clave: El Castillón, Zamora, metalurgia, osculatorio,
época tardoantigua.

Summary:

During 2007, 2008 and 2009, excavations and surveys were
carried out in Castro El Castillón (Santa Eulalia de Tábara, Zamora).
Chronologically, the area belongs to the Bronze Age, evidenced by the
Schematic Rock Art to be found in a small cave near El Castillón.
There are also remains from the Iron Age, such as small pieces of
pottery and other remains discovered during the survey. The final
occupation of El Castillon took place in the Late Roman period (centuries
IV-VI A.C.).
Our current excavations have focused on that period. This research
has been developed with help from the Project of Investigation and
Diffusion of the Archaeological Proto-Historic Patrimony in the Province
of Zamora.
The research on this area has shown that important metallurgical
works were carried out inside the El Castillón, which was reaffirmed by the
presence of two complex oval structures of great dimensions associated
with metal processing.
The great amount of reclaimed iron slugs inside these structures,
and the stratigraphic nature of the deposits, indicate prolonged use of this
metallurgical area for metal processing during the Late Roman period
(centuries IV-VI A.C.). The development of metallurgical work in these
structures is reflected in the wide ranging and impressive array of metallic
artefacts recovered from the different areas in El Castillón. We found many
objects of great quality, like the osculatorio - a piece of bronze decorated
with two birds. Other pieces include a circular bronze slope, a copper clasp,
small bronze tweezers, copper handles, iron nails, striker pins, knives and
small knives, iron washers, undetermined artefacts, etc.
Key words: El Castillón, Zamora, metallurgy, osculatorio, Late
Roman period.

Introduction:

Castro of El Castillón (Santa Eulalia de Tábara, Zamora), is
situated on the borders of the Esla river, in the province of Zamora, less
than a kilometer to the southwest of the Puente Quintos. This hillfort is
located on a small hill in the right border of Esla river, in a narrowing of
the river channel.
The archaeological site is located in the farm Dehesa de Tardajos,
near to the village of Santa Eulalia de Tábara, in the municipal region of
Moreruela de Tábara (Zamora). The altitude of the site oscillates between
740 m and 749 m, and its geographical coordinates are 41º51´20” North
and 5º47´25” West. It has an approximate surface of 3ha and a walled
perimeter of about 600 m. This walled perimeter provides a unique line of
defense that surrounds the establishment, except in the East where there is
a deep cliff.
El Castillón began in the Bronze Age. We identified a small place
with Schematic Art Rock located in this castro. This place was identified in
1987 by Fernández Rivera like Abrigo de El Castillón (FERNANDEZ
RIVERA, B.; 1987; SASTRE BLANCO, J.C.; 2006). The last historical
evidence is from the Late Roman period, with the wisigothic arrival to the
Iberian Peninsula in IV-VI A.C. Dating has been possible for the
archaeological excavations conducted between 2007 and 2009.

El Castillón and the historical context of the Late Roman
period in the region of Tábara (Zamora):

The Castillón has a privileged location, controlling the Esla river
and next to the Rroman way Vía de la Plata parallel to its left border. In the
Roman period El Castillón was in the Conventus Asturum. The Esla river
or Ástura (in Roman period) would serve to delimit between the
populations astures and vacceos. Vía de la Plata was a route parallel to the
Esla river that connected the Roman cities Asturica Augusta (Astorga) with
Emerita Augusta (Merida). This was an important route for metal
circulation from the mines of the northwest peninsula. Ancient sources see
this route like a double way with its center in Ocelondurii. In this place
there were two routes, one to Asturica Augusta (Astorga) and another one
to Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza).

At the hillfort of El Castillón, the section of the Vía de la Plata that
crosses this area is the section from Vico Aquario to Brigeco or
Brigaecium.
Vico Aquario is one of the mansions mentioned in the Itinerary of
Antonino and in Anonymous of Ravenna. Many author locate Vico Aquario
in Castrotorafe (Riego del Camino), situated to the south of El Castillón. In
the village of Castrotorafe there are only a few remains of an old medieval
castle, but the occupation of this region dates from preRoman time (during a
visit to this castle we found a small piece of pottery with celtiberic
decoration, now located in the Museum of Zamora).
El Castillón is situated in a privileged place of communications,
between two possible mansions of the Vía de la Plata, Vico Aquario to the
south and Pretorion to the north. But it is possible to emphasize another
important archeological site near El Castillón, only about 7 km to the south
of El Castillón, this site is the Dehesa de Misleo (SEVILLANO
CARVAJAL, F.V. ; 1978).
In Dehesa de Misleo evidence was found ranging from pre-Roman
to Early Medieval times. The most represented periods in Dehesa de Misleo
are the Roman and Wisigothic periods. This archaeological site has still not
been excavated, but fabulous pieces have been recovered through fortuitous
findings. A small treasure hoard from the Roman period was discovered
with more than 200 coins, including some from the Augustus period to
Gallienus and Claudius II the Gothic. In this site a Roman cemetery was
located which included a very important deposit with Omega fibulae, rings,
cases of bronze daggers, etc. These remains are from II-III A.C. (PÉREZ
CENTENO, Mª.R.; 1990).
To the south of castro of El Castillón, in the left border of the Esla
river we had one of the most important archeological sites from the Late
Roman period in the province of Zamora. The Cristo de San Estebán
(Muelas del Pan) has numerous similarities with El Castillón, mainly the
stamped pottery and the Terra Sigillata Hispanica tardía (TSHt). Numerous
remains from the Iron Age until the Late Roman period were found at this
archaeological site (DOMÍNGUEZ BOLAÑOS, A.; 1993)

Archaeological Investigations in El Castillón:

The first reference to the hillfort of El Castillón was in 1970, from
Virgilio Sevillano in his investigatión about the province of Zamora:
Archaeological testimonies of the province of Zamora. The first surveys of

this site found an enclosure fortified in a ‘U’ form, with three accesses/gates
in the wall. In the interior of this site were the circular and rectangular
structures, in many areas altered by the presence of corrals and shepherd
huts. This house used some stones from the wall for its construction.
In surveys, Esparza Arroyo found different materials such as iron
slags, glasses, and abundant pieces of pottery, expecially Terra Sigillata
Hispanica tardia (TSHt), but no evidence of the Iron Age. The first theory
about this castro was as a site from the Late Roman period, IV-V A.C., with
no evidence before this period. (ESPARZA ARROYO, A.; 1986).
In 2007 a new archaeological project about preRoman and Late
Roman history in the province of Zamora began, under the denomination:
Archaeological Project of Research and Diffusion of the Protohistorical
Heritage of the province of Zamora (P.I.D.P.A.D.Z.), with the first
excavations in El Castillón directed by Jose Carlos Sastre Blanco
(University of Granada) and Oscar Rodriguez Monterrubio (University
Autónoma of Madrid) (RODRIGUEZ MONTERRUBIO, O., and SASTRE
BLANCO, J.C. ; 2008).
The survey works inside El Castillón documented 11 possible
circular structures of 4x1.90 m in diameter to the West and three possible
rectangular structures of 13.30x7.76 m located to the East.
El Castillón has three different accesses or gateways in the
enclosure. The most important of these accesses is in the Western area and
is the main entrance. Another access is in the North-East area, descending
to the Esla river. The third access is to the South. The defensive wall is
more than 4 meters in width, and approximately 10 meters in height. The
construction technique was very simple - great rectangular stones of
quartzite were used, without using mortar. The main access was reinforced
by two casamatas, one to each side of the gateway, and a small rectangular
entrance tower in the right of this gateway.
The three campaigns of excavations undertaken in 2007, 2008 and
2009 concentrated on the excavation of the zone to the West of the wall, on
two circular structures located to the North of the castro, in relation to
metallurgical works and the residential area and of storage located in the
central zone of El Castillón, where the most significant remains were
located; a bronze “osculatorio”.
Different remains from excavations have a chronology that
includes the Iron Age, as demonstrated by small pottery fragments made by
hand, to Wisigothic–Late Roman period IV-VI A.C., demonstrated mainly
by stamped gray pottery.

Image. 1. Rectangular structure related to a storehouse.

Metallurgical works:

In the archaeological excavations of 2007 and 2008, an oval
structure almost totally related to metal work was excavated. This structure
has convergent walls and a small entrance 40 centimeters in width, with two
great vertical quartzite blocks at either side. In relation to the structure and
the numerous iron slags obtained in its interior, we can suppose that it is a
furnace and that this zone of El Castillón was dedicated to metallurgical
works, therefore demonstrating the analyses made in relation to iron slags
by the Department of Science of the Materials and Metallurgical
Engineering of Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the University
Complutense of Madrid.

Image 2. Oval structure, excavated during 2007 and 2008, related to
metallurgical area.

The metellic remains found in El Castillón are not iron slags (iron
silicates) from furnaces for reduction of the iron. Instead, they are from
fragments for the forge and the steel cooled by the air. It has been possible
to deduce that they were smooth steel and of low carbon content, and these
high quality pieces suggest the presence of well qualified blacksmiths.
Ringwoodita is also present in the iron slags; Cáceres is the only place in
the Iberian Peninsula in which this mineral is found. This indicates
commercial interaction between El Castillón and the Vía de la Plata. The
archaeological excavation from 2008 documented 469 iron slag fragments
with a gross weight of 13.930 kg.

Metallic remains from El Castillón.
The metallic material from El Castillón discovered from 2007 to
2009 was divided according to metallic composition; bronze, iron and
copper, with a special section for the iron slags.
Bronze artefacts:

Osculatorio: “Osculatorio” was discovered in El Castillón in
2008. This osculatorio is an important new find within the investigation of
the Late Roman period in the Iberian Peninsula. This osculatorio was

discovered in a very clear archaeological context, perfectly delimited, and
there can be no doubt about its archaeological interpretation. In similar
cases in the Iberian Peninsula where these objects have been discovered in
Late Roman tombs, there was not a lot of information about the real use of
this object. Other osculatorios were discovered in survey works, without
archaeological context, and some were recovered from the Rastro of Madrid
(antiquities market).
The osculatorio from El Castillón was discovered in a clear
archaeological context, inside a room which was excavated in 2008 and
2009. This room may have been a storehouse, as a great amount of pottery
such as pots, bowls, jars, plates, and large earthen jars or dolias were
discovered.
The osculatorio discovered in El Castillón is in an excellent state of
conservation as it is complete. It consists of three perfectly differentiated
parts - ring, stick and head (the decorated area). It was make using a mold,
with an alloy of copper, tin, lead and zinc. Its overall length is 112 mm.
The ring of this osculatorio is circular, with a diameter of 22 mm.
The ring was formed using a small flattened sheet, which gives it a fragile
consistency.

Image 3. Osculatorio found in Castro of El Castillón (Santa Eulalia de
Tábara, Zamora) in 2008.

The stick is made up of an extended piece, convex in its central
part, narrowing where it is united with the stick and the head (we must
remember that it is a massive piece, made using a mold, and that for that
reason it consists of only one piece and not three). This stick is 70 mm in
length.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the osculatorio is the head,
since it is what makes this piece unique. In the case of the osculatorio from
El Castillón the head is made up of a pair of birds (possibly doves) facing
each other, united at the tip. These birds are placed on a small pedestal. The
anatomical characteristics of these birds are very noticeable, small incisions
were used to mark the plumage, the tip and the eyes.
This type of artefact is relatively common, although to date only a
few have been located within an archaeological context. We can mention
some of the most interesting cases of all those found in the Iberian
Peninsula, like Simancas (Valladolid), Las Merchanas (Salamanca), Las
Pizarras (Segovia), Suellacabras (Soria), Clunia (Burgos), Merida
(Badajoz), la Torrecilla (Madrid), Segobriga (Cuenca), Carpio de Tajo
(Toledo), Azúa (Alava), Montefrio (Granada), etc. indicating an ample
dispersion of this type of artefact.

Image 4. Detail of the head of osculatorio, with the two birds unit by the tip.

Earring: One of the more interesting bronze artefacts which has
been found a fine circular earring. This slope was found in the area of the
house used as a storehouse. This object is currently being analysed.
Handle: During the 2008 excavation, a bronze artefact associated
with a circular handle fragment was recovered. It was recovered in the area
nominated as the metallurgical zone. We have not been able to ascertain if it
corresponds with an object made in the furnaces, or is an artefact related to
the metalwork.
Bronze tweezers: Another one of the bronze artefacts recovered in
the castro of El Castillón were tweezers of Roman typology. As this was
discovered during the 2009 excavation, analysis is ongoing so no further
data is available at present.

Copper artefacts:
Washers: A small washer or copper clasp of reduced dimensions.
It was found inside one of the ovoid structures related to the furnaces. It is
the only copper piece documented from the site at present.

Image. 5. Bronze tweezers, recovered during the archaeological
excavations of year 2009.

Iron artefacts:

Nails: Nails are one of the more common metallic artefacts found
in El Castillón. The majority of them are of great size, with a noticeable

head. Most were found in the housing area, in relation to some of the three
structures documented up to this point. They appear generally in
archaeological contexts associated with the ceiling of the house, though
some could also belong to doors or windows of these rooms. Perhaps the
most remarkable nail is the one which appears to be associated with the
bronze osculatorio, suggesting the possibility that the artefact may have
been hung on this nail at the time of the rooms’ collapse.
Striker pins: During the excavations of 2007 two extended striker
pins were located in the house zone. These iron striker pins were placed in
areas determined to be the outer area of the houses. These areas have not yet
been excavated, hence we cannot determine if they would be related to
some artisan utility.
Knives: Until now two knives have been recovered, one during the
2008 excavation and one during the 2009 excavation. Both are made of iron
and are small in size. One was found in the metallurgical zone and the other
in the zone of houses. Regarding the knife from the metallurgical zone, we
have not been able to determine if it would have some function related to
the treatment of the metal. The knife from the housing area was discovered
in a storehouse room.
Handles: Only one fragment of iron handle has been located up to
this point. This was found during the 2009 excavation and as of now study
is ongoing. Nevertheless, we can say that it is an iron handle, of small size,
corresponding to a container of small dimensions.
Slags:
The majority of slags discovered in the excavations of 2007 and
2008 were found in the metallurgical zone. During the 2008 excavation, 469
fragments of slag were gathered in this area. The total weight of this slag is
13.930 kg, which shows us the importance of the slag within the findings of
the Castillón, and the importance of the metallurgic work in El Castillón.

Metallurgical analysis of different metals from El Castillón.

First we must give thanks to Professor Dr. D. Antonio J. the Criado
Portal and the Department of Science of the Materials and Metallurgical
Engineering of the Group of Investigation of Technology Mechanic and
Arqueomateralia of University Complutense of Madrid, for the analysis of
all the metallic pieces recovered during these excavations and for their
collaboration with the Archaeological Project of Research and Diffusion of
the Protohistorical Heritage of the Province of Zamora (P.I.D.P.A.D.Z.).

It was decided to analyse the metallic artefacts which were in a
better state of conservation, and which, in our opinion, could offer better
results.
We used varying techniques to study and analyse the metallic
artefacts, with Radiology only been used in the case of the osculatorio. The
techniques employed were:
- Sweep Electronic Microscope (M.E.B.).
- Conventional Optical Microscopy.
- X -Ray Diffraction.
- Radiology
In the case of the osculatorio, the following results were obtained.
It is a bronze piece with several alloy artefacts - tin, lead and zinc. The X-
Ray Diffraction identified the tin bronze.
It was possible to obtain an image by Sweep Electronic
Microscope – the gray tonality against the segregations of whiter color
indicates artefacts heavier than the copper, ie tin, lead and zinc.

Image 6. Image of the X-Ray realises to osculatorio discovered in Castro
of El Castillón (Santa Eulalia de Tábara, Zamora).

It was possible to identify four characteristic zones that have been
analyzed; the analysis of a general zone (1), shows the global composition
of the bronze of the osculatorio, ie. Cu: 87´2%; Sn: 4´8%; Pb: 5´3%; Zn:
2´6%. The analysis of the zone (2), gave the following composition: Cu:
19´3%; Pb: 80´7%, in which the high percentage of lead indicates to us that

it is a microsegregation of lead since this artefact is not soluble in copper;
whereas the low percentage found in copper can be due to the first effect.
The analysis of (3) offers the following composition: Cu: 32´38%;
Pb: 67´6%. As in the case of the previous zone (2), it is another lead
segregation with a first effect of copper.
Finally, the analysis of the zone indicated as (4) gave the following
composition: Cu: 92´7%; Sn: 5´33%; Zn: 1´97%, being a very small
segregation, the first effect is very great, the reason why this composition is
similar to the matrix but with the lead absent.

Image 7. Micrography of osculatorio by Conventional Optical Microscopy
(X500).

The zinc present is of little importance in these bronzes, since it
does not change mechanical characteristics. It gives a yellower color to the
bronze and improves its ability.
The presence of these segregations filling up the interdendritic
spaces, during the solidification. The x-rays show that what was obtained
was a piece without internal defects. Also, the x-rays indicate that the
corrosion visible is very superficial and there are no punctures in the
osculatorio. The marks on the surface were produced after the moulding by
mechanical engraving.
We can also make reference to the analysis of other metallic pieces
from El Castillón,. The washer or clasp of copper, which during excavation

appeared to be made of bronze, was later determined to be copper. This is
the only copper piece recovered up to this point in the ongoing excavation.

Image 8. Laboratory Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

It measures 1.5x2 cm and was identified as copper using X-Rays
diffraction and the analysis of Energies Dispersives (EDS-EDX). The study
of difractograma, besides showing that it is copper of great purity, detected
particles such as silicates had adhered to it. The micrographs obtained by
Sweep Electronic Microscope demonstrated that it was forged in cold
temperatures.
Regarding the fragment of iron handle, the study of Sweep
Electronic Microscope indicated that it is very smooth steel, with carbon
content inferior to 0.1% in mass. Microstructure shows a steel made up of
little homogenous ferrite grains with small aged pearlite colonies. The aging
of pearlite is the result of the passage of time.
A small iron knife was also analysed. Metalographic study
demonstrated that it was warmed up intentionally to obtain a greater
hardness. Micrographic obtained by means of Sweep Electronic Microscope
a non circular structure is observed corresponding with a steel that has been
tempered. It was forged using heat and, later, cooled in water. The acicular
ferrite appears with secreted iron carbide multitude in its interphases, a
product of the natural aging through time. One did not temper with

martensite, which had hardened the piece much more; since its carbon
content must go up to around 0.15% in mass.

Image 9. X-Rays diffraction analysis of osculatorio.

Of the numerous nails recovered in El Castillón, the best two were
analysed.The first is a very smooth steel nail, with a carbon content inferior
to 0.1% in mass, forged in heat and cooled in air. It is a ferritic matrix, with
some small pearlite colonies very aged in the grain boundaries.
The other nail is very smooth steel, with a carbon content inferior
to 0.1% in mass. Observed in the micrographs, obtained by Sweep
Electronic Microscope, is a very clean ferritic matrix of impurities, with
some pearlite colonies very aged in the grain boundaries of ferrite and some
very small idiomorphics iron carbides inside these grains.
The steel was forged in heat and cooled in the air. This is
evidenced in the presence of those idiomorphics iron carbides inside the
ferritic grains, which appeared by natural aging through time, as a result of
a strong degree of subcooling that supersaturated the ferrite. Also the aged
and degenerated pearlite demonstrates natural aging.
Finally, with regard to the slags recovered in El Castillón, which
are the majority of the metallic materials found up to this point, we will
concentrate only on the analysis of slags gathered in 2007, since at the

moment the corresponding analyses are being done for slags recovered in
2008 and 2009.
Most of the slags are composed of iron silicates very contaminated
by the soils there were located in. Some slags were found that did not come
from furnaces of iron reduction.
The study of the structure of the steel fragments,that still had a
metallic nucleus, has been able to determine that it would be smooth steel,
of low content in carbon, hipoeutactoides (0.1% to 0.2% of carbon in mass),
forged in heat and cooled by air. The content of impurities was correct for
good quality steel. This chemical composition and the correct use of the
forge and its heat, suggests to us the presence of skilful blacksmiths who
manufactured good quality pieces.
Conclusion about the analysis of bronze osculatorio:
Analysis of bronze osculatorio by Sweep Electronic Microscope (M.E.B.),
X-Rays diffraction, Conventional Optical Microscopy and Radiology, give
us a complete information about a very interesting and important artefact in
this historical period. Complete composition and manufacture of this
artefact is an indicative of the presence in the place of professional
blacksmith.

Image 10. Analysis of osculatorio by Sweep Electronic Microscope (M.E.B.)

Metallurgic composition of bronze osculatorio:

Weight %: Cu: 87,2%; Sn: 4,8%; Pb: 5,3%; Zn: 2,6%

Composition of bronze osculatorio have an important content in
copper (87,2%), and an important content in lead (5,3%). Content in lead is
very important for hardness of this artefact.
The most interesting element discover in the composition of the
osculatorio by Sweep Electronic Microscope is zinc (2,6%). Zinc is only
important in this composition for later engraving of this artefact.

Chronology:

The earliest remains from El Castillón are from the Iron Age, such
as small pieces of pottery and some remains discovered during the survey,
and the Schematic Rock Art situated in a small cave next to this hillfort.
The final occupation of El Castillon took place in the Late Roman
period (IV-VI A.C.). We have a lot of references from this period, including
the Terra Sigillata Hispanica tardía (TSHt) and stamp pottery. There are
important references about this chronology, especially in el Cristo de San
Estebán (Muelas del Pan), in the south of El Castillón.
The most important piece used to date this site is the bronze
Osculatorio. The only references to this type of artefact pertain to the Late
Roman period, between centuries IV-VI A.C.
We have very clear and complete archeological contexts for the
different objects and structures at the site, but C-14 dating needs to be
utilised to gain more specific dates.

At the moment in the laboratories from Universidad Complutense
de Madrid is analyzing by thermoluminescence different roofing tiles,
bricks and adobes. With this analysis is possible have a important datation
for this archaeological site, and expecially comparation the dates from
thermoluminescence, with the dates from poterry or metals.

Conclusions:

The excavations from 2007 to 2009 have provided an important list
of metallic materials, plus diverse structures related to metal work.
Two oval structures excavated during 2007 and 2008 were proven
to relate to the metal work, thanks to the structure and great amount of slags
recovered inside the structures.
The quality of steel studied demonstrated an excellent knowledge
of the reduction processes to obtain the original pellets or lupias in the
furnaces.
The examined steels are all of a great quality; the carbon content is
very low. All show strong natural aging, as is clear from the few present
pearlite colonies.
According to the data collected up to now, we can speak of steel
forged in heat and cooled in the air, with the exception of one of the nails
which was cooled in water.
The metallic object of most interest from all artefacts found up to
this point is the bronze osculatorio, which was made using a mold. The
Osculatorio is one of only a few pieces of this type that were found in a
clear archaeological context, and unique in that it can be related to
metallurgical structures. Although with the data that we have at the
moment, it is not possible to conclusively determine that this piece was
made here and not brought in from another place, it seems to us a
reasonable hypothesis.
The objective for future excavations is to continue working in the
metallurgical area, and to document the exact dimensions in all areas, the
different functions of the diverse structures, and the type of objects that
were made at this site.

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