The origin of lead artifacts from Novae: applications of Pb isotopes in identifying the provenance of Roman artifacts from N. Bulgaria

Abstract

This study identifies the lead ores used to produce lead artifacts used by the Romans between the first and eighth centuries AD during the construction of the fort and then the town of Novae (N. Bulgaria). For this purpose, lead samples were taken from pipes, joints of columns and pedestals, and from a lead ingot. The samples were analyzed for lead isotopes and the results were compared to literature data for Roman mines from what is now Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Germany, and Romania. Pb isotope results indicate that during the earlier stages of Novae's establishment, lead was most likely supplied from several different mines located in the Balkan area. Several samples also show Pb isotopes indicating mixing of lead from mines in the Balkan area. Then in the fourth—fifth century AD lead began to be supplied mainly from mines located in NW Bulgaria, with one sample possibly from deposits in German. This is evidenced by the matching of the results obtained for the ores to the data for deposits from these regions. Two possibly recycled samples were also identified. Deposits from other European regions did not match samples from Novae, indicating that majority of the lead was sourced from mines in the Balkan region.