Archaeological Studies on a Bronze-casting Workshop in Gerasa (Jordan) in the Light of the Development of Metal Processing Technology during the Roman Impe-rial Era

由雅克·塞纳（jacques Seigne）领导的法国人在格拉萨宙斯神庙的高原上进行的发掘工作，发现了一个铸造青铜雕像的车间的一部分。它被占领的时间是在二世纪中叶，可以看出它与建造巨大的宙斯神庙有关。冶炼装置的遗迹证明了一种新技术，模具碎片表明铸造了比真人更大的雕像。这个作坊的中心位于现在已被水淹没的北部隐孔岩，也就是它的西部。计划在两次竞选中揭露这一问题。据我们所知，这是罗马时代以来第一个保存如此详细的此类建筑群。我们知道在这样一个铸造厂里发生的不同的工作，因此能够专门寻找特定的特征。由于我们长期的研究，我们对从古代到希腊化晚期的希腊作坊的技术有很好的了解，我们可以在此基础上详细阐述罗马技术的差异。因此，迄今为止存在的发现，从罗马时代显示在一个新的光。这一点似乎特别重要，因为到目前为止，人们普遍认为罗马人缺乏创新精神，尤其是在青铜艺术方面。在寻找所应用技术的变化参数时，数值计算将发挥作用，因为它已经在恢复希腊铸造技术方面很有用。与脚轮、冶金学家和考古学家的合作已经达成协议。与此同时，先前未发现的发现应重新评估。例如，重建的大型铸造模具的通风是如何完成的问题。借助铸造模具碎片的数字化图片，合适的程序应使用试图对铸造雕像的大小做出结论，并可能找到他们的外观暗示。由于2世纪的罗马雕像强烈要求特定类型，因此有机会获得新的见解。Jaques Seigne将介绍他的研究结果和之前挖掘的文件，Thomas Weber将带来他在模具碎片修复工作中的经验。这个项目有很大的机会获得罗马帝国东部的罗马青铜铸造技术的新见解。

The French excavations on the plateau of the temple of Zeus in Gerasa , led by Jaques Seigne, have uncovered parts of a workshop for statuary bronze-casting. lts time of occupation lies in the middle of the second century and is to be seen in connection with the construction of the huge temple of Zeus. Remains of the smelting installations testify to a new technology, mould fragments point to the casting of larger-than-life statues. The centre of this workshop lay in the now submerged northern cryptoporticus, namely in its westernpart. lt is planned to uncover this porticus during two campaigns. The workshop is the first complex of this kind from Roman time that we know which is preserved in such detail. We know about the different works that took place in such a foundry and are therefore able tospecifically look for particular features. Since, due to our lang lasting research, we are well informed about the technology in Greek workshops from archaic time until late Hellenism , we can elaborate the differences in Roman technology on this basis. Thus the hitherto existing findings from Roman time are shown in a new light. This seems of particular importance since up to now the popular opinion is, that the Romans were not very innovative, especially concerning bronze art. In the search for changing parameters in the technology applied, the numeric calculation will play a role, as it already has been useful in recovering the Greek casting technique. The cooperation with casters, metallurgists and archaeometrists is already agreed on.Parallel to this the previously uncovered findings shall be newly evaluated. There is, for example, the question of how the ventilation of the reconstructed big casting moulds was accomplished. With the help of digitalized pictures of the casting mould fragments, suitable programs shall be used to try and make conclusions about the size of the cast statues and maybe to find hints on their looks. Since Roman statues of the 2nd century are strongly obligated to specific types, there is the chance for new insights. Jaques Seigne will introduce his results and the documentation of the previous excavation into the project as well as Thomas Weber will bring in his experience with the restauration work on the mould fragments. This project yields a big chance of gaining new insights in Roman bronze-casting technology in the east of the Roman Empire.