Specialists of the National Institute of preventive archaeological research in France (Inrap) when carrying out excavations on the territory surrounding the ancient Cathedral in the commune Di, found an extremely rare and luxurious Roman "machine for boiling".
As reported on the website Inrap excavations in the South-East of France, in the commune Di, the Drôme Department, allowed us to find the item, which in Ancient Rome was a luxury and was highly valued. It in his writings described even Cicero, where he wrote that such devices are sold at incredible prices – so high that at the same price you could buy yourself land.
This "machine for boiling" scientists call authepsa or autepsa, and to us it is more known under the name of "the samovar". The artifact is relatively well preserved. It was made of copper alloy. Its height is 47 cm and consisted of two separate compartments of the reservoir and spillway.
In the center of the samovar there was a special heating chamber, in which through hole with a diameter of 50 mm was laid charcoal. The samovar was equipped with a long and narrow spout. At the side of the case has been with an alloy of lead and tin was soldered cast handle.
The device was decorated with ornaments and a small figure, probably depicting a guard dog, the muzzle of which rests on the front legs. A reservoir with a capacity of about four liters had very thin walls – only about two 2 mm. at the Bottom there were two small square holes, which were probably used for ventilation.
Found an artifact is only the sixth such object known to scientists, and only the second found in Gaul. Scientists say that its authenticity is not in doubt. Earlier on the black market and in private collections surfaced skillfully executed forgery.
The other five authentic Roman samovar was discovered in the French city of Chartres, the Swiss Avense, Pompeii, the Maghreb and the Hungarian city of Szekszard itself. The researchers say that the newly found artifact similar to the sample from Pompeii.
We will add that it was discovered during the examination of the ruins of the building, built in the second half of the I century of our era. It was destroyed by fire at the end of the II century. Probably since then, the samovar there was.
Scientists have yet to accurately date the artifact. While radiocarbon Dating was only charcoal, which is preserved in the heating chamber. The analysis showed that it was created between 130 and 260 years BC. This range generally coincides with the Dating of the building and ceramics were also found during excavations.
