| Description (summary) |
2008-08-17 |
eE |
a small, solid cast nail-shaped piece with a relatively well preserved surface. One end is slightly pointed and the other is flat. The diameter is consistent throughout. Near the flat end, there appears to be an unusual protrusion of excess metal. This area may have resulted from unusual oxidation patterns. Alternatively, it may have been the result of an explosion in a mould where the metal escaped the shape of the mould due to the heat or weakness in the mould, or a combination of the two. Viewed in this manner, this piece may have been part of a gating system vent used for casting a small piece in the lost-wax method. Closer inspection of similar occurrences may reveal more about this process and its prevalence at Mozan. [Input: S820SE.j] |