A A catillus fragment with inscription from the surroundings of the Roman mining settlement in the territorium metallorum Tresminas / Jales

Abstract

Summary

In 1998, an inscription was found on a discarded millstone fragment in the territorium metallorum Tresminas / Jales, which is presented here for the first time. The inscription consists of Latin numerals and is probably complete. Due to the location of the find, which is slightly outside the settlement in an area where two Roman aquaeducts passed by, two interpretations of the inscription, either indicating a weight or a length, are possible. A weight indication in the order of 74 or 72 ½ Roman pounds could, on the one hand, indicate a connection with ore processing or a regularly required quantity of a certain material against the background of the mining operation. If it is a length measurement, it can only be understood in connection with work on one of the aquaeducts, which probably took place under the supervision of a military unit. Although neither of the two interpretations can be ruled out, the Roman weight indication is more obvious due to the striking correspondence between the incised number and the current weight of the stone.