Object type
plumb line
Culture/period
Roman world
Materials
lead
Technique
Mint
Production date
-30 (MAC CASC 19874), -100 (MAC CASC 18687)
Museum
Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - CASC
Current location
Archaeological site
Aiguablava I
Township
Begur (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Girona, Baix Empordà)
Dimensions
132 x 97 mm
128 x 146 mm
Description
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This is the most sophisticated instrument used for navigation in Roman times. It is a piece of lead that was tied to a rope with knots at a known interval. Depths were calculated by throwing it into the sea and counting the fathoms.
A sticky substance was inserted at the bottom so that materials from the seabed could adhere to it, which meant the composition of the seabed could be identified.
© Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - CASC
Omeka ID
3036